Goochland County presents balanced FY2027 budget proposal with no tax-rate increase; recommends pay raises, benefit absorption and utility rate adjustments

Doctor Ridley presented Goochland County's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to the Board of Supervisors on the county's livestream, describing a balanced, needs-based plan that would hold local tax rates steady while increasing county spending and revenues by roughly 3.7 percent.

Ridley said the all-funds proposal totals about $170.1 million, including nearly $16.9 million in proposed bond proceeds tied to a Ridgefield Booster Pump Station for the county's utilities enterprise. "This is a needs-based budget ... that ultimately increases general fund expenditures and general fund revenues to the tune of 3.7%," Ridley said during the presentation.

The budget relies in part on rising assessed values; Ridley noted January assessments increased from about $9.6 billion to $10.3 billion, and staff are forecasting roughly a 4 percent further increase into January 2027. Based on those figures and other assumptions, Dr. Raley said the county expects about $55.2 million in real-estate tax revenue next fiscal year, a year-over-year increase he described as approximately $2.8 million (about 5.4 percent).

Staff also…