Stafford County administrator proposes FY2026 budget with 5¢ real-estate tax increase; residents urge alternative approaches

County Administrator Ashton presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on March 4, asking the board to authorize advertisement of the proposal and scheduling public hearings. The plan would raise the real‑estate tax rate by five cents and dedicate significant new dollars to schools, public safety and mandatory county obligations.

The budget presentation, delivered by County Administrator Ashton and reviewed by Chief Financial Officer Andrea Light, called for a 5¢ real‑estate tax increase and described the main drivers: a projected $11 million rise in disabled veterans tax relief, approximately $5 million of new debt service for recently approved school construction, and inflationary or contractual increases to partner contributions and healthcare. Ashton said the proposal was the product of targeted base‑budget reductions and a push to find efficiencies, including an aggressive use of certain vacancy savings, but that the mandatory increases left…