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Residents urge caution on taxes, call for more homelessness and school funding at pre‑budget hearing
Summary
At the Jan. 13 pre‑budget public hearing, residents urged the James City County Board of Supervisors to avoid tax increases, fund interventions for struggling schools and expand homelessness supports, and asked for greater budget transparency before large capital projects.
Dozens of residents addressed the James City County Board of Supervisors during a Jan. 13 pre‑budget public hearing, urging caution on tax increases and pressing the board to prioritize homelessness services, teacher pay and targeted school interventions.
Donnie McDaniel, executive director of Community of Faith Mission, said the county shelter has served 85 people so far and that 45% of guests are James City County residents. "We do have requirements and they really are willing to do the work," McDaniel said, describing the shelter's new "Heads Up" diversion program and asking the board to consider one‑time housing funds to help people afford deposits and first month's rent.
Other speakers raised budgetary and procedural concerns. Michelle Geesman asked the board to use referendums for major capital projects so taxpayers can weigh in before decisions that could raise property taxes. "If there are large expenditures that are going to be on the horizon as a taxpayer, please bring it to our attention," Geesman said. Linda Weiss requested a tax moratorium and a line‑by‑line disclosure of budget increases, urging savings from scaled‑back plans for a new administration building and library be redirected to teacher pay.
Education funding drew repeated attention. Mike Joseph urged support for additional intervention teachers and competitive teacher salaries for the Williamsburg‑James City County (WJCC) schools, citing the Virginia Department of Education’s new performance profile and naming specific schools that need added personnel to meet proficiency goals.
Several residents, including Jack Haldeman, urged the board to protect open space and consider reinstating a purchase‑of‑development‑rights program to limit future infrastructure and service costs tied to growth. Multiple speakers, including Charles Colgrove and Chris Henderson, asked the board to move meeting start times later to increase public participation.
The hearing was advisory; staff said comments will inform development of the budget proposal planned for board consideration in May. No board action was taken at the hearing.
