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Residents urge relief as James City County budget and tax proposals draw sharp pushback
Summary
Dozens of residents pressed the Board of Supervisors to reconsider proposed tax and budget changes after reassessments and rate proposals raised affordability concerns; staff outlined a FY27 budget with a 3¢ real-estate rate reduction and a meals-tax increase from 4% to 6%.
James City County officials heard strong public opposition on Thursday as staff presented the county's proposed two-year budget and related tax changes, including a proposed reduction of the real-estate tax rate from $0.83 to $0.80 per $100 of assessed value and an increase in the meals tax from 4% to 6%.
Sharon McCarthy, the county's finance and management services director, told the Board of Supervisors the county's proposed FY27 total budget is $413.1 million, with a general fund of $281.1 million. The proposal would direct an additional $4.3 million to school operations and align spending with an updated strategic plan. McCarthy said revaluations increased overall assessed values by 10.31% and that the 3-cent reduction would lower the effective increase but still produces an effective…
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