Prince George County reviews FY26 budget; staff project strong fund balance, flag personnel and tax decisions

Prince George County—s Board of Supervisors held its first fiscal year 2026 budget work session in February, as county finance staff reviewed revenues, expenditures, fund balance commitments and a long list of personnel and outside-agency requests that will shape the draft budget to be introduced March 11.

Deputy County Administrator and Director of Finance Betsy Drury told the board the county ended fiscal year 2024 with a fund balance of just over $50.7 million, which represented 37.4% of FY24 expenditures. Drury said that, after previously authorized carryovers and commitments, the county still would have roughly $42.58 million remaining if the school division—s requested $2,082,000 reappropriation is approved for a public hearing next week.

The work session mattered because those fund and revenue estimates underpin the board—s upcoming choices on the tax rate and on dozens of pay, staffing and capital requests. Drury said the county remains well above its 12.5% policy minimum and its 15% target, giving the board room to consider one-time and recurring commitments but leaving key decisions contingent on pending reassessment numbers and state actions.

Drury reviewed major revenue and expenditure drivers and the timetable for decisions. On revenue, she said the county—s current real estate tax rate is 82 cents, personal property tax is $3.90 and the meals tax rate is 4%. She said reassessment work is ongoing and revenue estimates tied to…