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Gloucester County staff outline $6.5 million FY2027 budget gap; adoption scheduled April 30
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Summary
County staff presented the FY2027 budget showing about $184 million in expenditures and roughly $177 million in revenues, leaving a roughly $6.5 million gap; schools, personnel changes, capital projects and utility funding were highlighted and the board scheduled further work sessions ahead of an April 30 adoption.
Gloucester County staff presented the proposed fiscal 2027 budget on April 13, describing about $184,000,000 in total expenditures and approximately $177,000,000 in total revenues, which staff said produces an estimated $6,500,000 budget gap.
Miss Calloway, who led the presentation, said the general fund request totals about $96,000,000 and that the school board’s adopted budget has increased from the superintendent’s initial $33,300,000 request. She said general fund revenue estimates total $89,500,000 and include a $4,000,000 use of fund balance for one‑time items. "This is still very much a fluid working budget," Miss Calloway said, noting personnel adjustments and that personnel changes currently total roughly $507,000.
The presentation flagged several large items: a capital plan originally shown with $12,000,000 in projects; an updated county office renovation that now includes HVAC and appears likely to be funded from sales‑tax cash rather than debt; and a previously discussed $5,000,000 Main Street water line replacement that was not reflected in the March 9 materials but was noted to the board.
On the revenue side, Miss Calloway reviewed advertised tax options for calendar year 2026 (which fund FY2027): an advertised real‑estate tax rate of 0.637 per $100 of assessed value (cited to generate roughly $6.5 million), a personal property rate of $3.15 per $100 (about $236,000), and a proposed recreational boat assessment of $1 per $100 (about $586,000). Miss Calloway said the advertised rates are proposals for public comment and that the board will deliberate further at upcoming work sessions.
The board placed additional budget work sessions on the calendar for April 16 and April 21, with budget adoption scheduled for April 30. Miss Calloway and other staff told the board that additional analyses — including further refinement of health‑insurance estimates and a potential asset/infrastructure audit for utilities — will be part of follow‑up work.
The board did not take final action on the budget that evening and encouraged continued public engagement during the scheduled meetings ahead of the adoption vote on April 30.
