Residents asked supervisors why tax bills and assessments were delayed this year, where the county stands on revenue and whether an identified $40 million balance should be used to avoid future tax increases.

Board members said the county delivered a budget more quickly this year than in prior years, but noted that bills and printing schedules involve other constitutional officers (for example, the treasurer) and the county does not control every step of billing and mailing. Officials said tax bills were at the printer at the time of the meeting and discussed whether moving to once-a-year tax bills (instead of twice a year) should be considered; supervisors reported they had asked staff to place that idea on a future agenda for study.

On the county’s cash position, officials said they identified about $40 million in county cash that previously had not been invested productively. Supervisors said some of that cash was placed into investments to earn better returns rather than sit idle in a checking account. They argued that having some debt is normal municipal finance practice because well-managed debt supports a better bond rating and lower borrowing costs over time.

Members also explained that new or planned capital projects — notably a proposed middle school at roughly $56 million and a new courthouse — are major drivers of long-term debt and revenue needs. Officials said the average tax revenue from a house in King George is roughly $3,014 and that the county’s cost to educate a single child was presented as about $5,000 (figures given as broad illustrations by supervisors), to put revenue needs in context.

On property assessments, officials said assessors were still in the field; they acknowledged past assessment cycles produced large reassessments for some neighborhoods and that the county had received criticism. Supervisors advised residents to use county alert systems and post meeting agendas and said the county would publish more information as audits and assessments conclude.

Ending: Supervisors suggested residents ask constitutional officers (including the treasurer) about bill timing and reiterated that capital projects, debt strategy and population growth drive the county’s fiscal choices. They proposed public discussion of whether to move to an annual billing cycle to give residents more predictability.