King and Queen supervisors agree to advertise proposed FY2024 budget after review

King and Queen County supervisors reached consensus to advertise the proposed FY2024 budget following a review of personnel, insurance and county service costs during their March 20 meeting.

Ms. Seay opened the budget discussion and said the county has another workers' compensation claim pending and that the new VACORP multiplier "is not favorable" because of the number of recent claims, a factor she said could affect FY2024 costs. She also noted the MPPDC budget has increased to cover the cost of hiring a lobbyist for the General Assembly.

Ms. Seay and Ms. Ammons told the board that the Compensation Board approved a third position at the state level, but the county has not funded that position; the supervisors agreed not to alter the budget recommendation to cover it. On library operations, Ms. Seay described staff work on options that would ask member localities of the Pamunkey library system to allow King and Queen to withdraw funds and use them to create a county position to cover library duties and community activities at the Marriott School.

The County Attorney requested additional funds for legal research software and increased travel and education in the attorney's budget, including attendance at the VACo conference; Ms. Seay noted the budget includes a proposed 7% state increase pending the final state budget. The board discussed personal property valuations amid slightly lower used-car values and left the proposed personal property figures unchanged. Ms. Seay advised that reassessment produced an equalized real estate tax rate of 43¢, the proposed rate in the budget is 48¢ and the current rate is 55¢.

After the discussion, the board agreed to advertise the FY2024 budget as presented; the minutes record consensus rather than a formal roll-call vote. Later in the meeting Mr. Burns asked that litter on York River Road be added to the inmate pickup list; Sheriff Balderson said the road would be added. Mr. Burns also sought clarification of protocol after a recent lift-assist call in the lower end of the county when no county staff responded from the Bohannon Park station.

The meeting concluded when Ms. Alsop moved to adjourn, Mr. Bailey seconded, and the board adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The minutes contain an internal inconsistency: they record that "Chairman Bailey called the meeting to order" while the signature block lists "Doris H. Morris, Chairman." The record appears to contain a clerical error; the minutes note Doris Morris was absent at roll call.