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James City County debates FY27 budget, staff recommends 3¢ real-estate tax cut and meals-tax increase to 6%
Summary
County staff proposed a $413.1 million FY27 budget that pares the real-estate rate by 3 cents while raising the meals tax from 4% to 6%, adds $4.3 million for schools and a 4% pay increase; supervisors pressed staff for options to reduce costs and asked for a follow-up work session before final adoption.
County staff presented the James City County proposed fiscal-year 2027 budget on April 27, recommending a $413.1 million all-funds plan and a package of revenue and expenditure moves intended to balance taxpayer concerns with service needs.
The proposed general-fund total is about $281.5 million, reflecting a staff recommendation to lower the real-estate tax rate by three cents while increasing the county meals tax from 4% to 6%. The proposal includes $4.3 million in additional operating support for WJCC schools and a 4% across‑the‑board employee pay increase. "The total fiscal year proposed budget of course is $413,100,000," a finance presenter told the board.
Why it matters: Staff said the tax package seeks to temper the bite of recent…
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