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Goochland supervisors adopt FY2027 budget, add public-safety hires and 3% pay raise
Summary
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the amended fiscal year 2027 budget after debating a small reallocation for school agricultural education. The $108 million general‑fund plan funds public safety positions, a 3% across‑the‑board employee raise, and $2.6 million in capital projects.
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt an amended fiscal year 2027 budget after a compressed debate that included a late reallocation of $37,000 to support school-based agricultural education.
Chair Christie opened the meeting by presenting the county administrator's amended budget, which the county described as preserving services while improving efficiency and repurposing identified savings. "The budget prioritizes public safety staffing, adds an IT director, and two dispatchers to support the sheriff's office, and funds three new firefighter and EMS positions," Christie said at the meeting.
Director of Finance Denise Sandlin walked the board through the numbers and trade-offs, telling supervisors, "We have an amount of $3,400,000 that was cut in this budget, which is about a 3.1% reduction," and outlining that the package includes a 3% raise for county and school employees and $2,600,000 in capital improvements. Sandlin also said the county had absorbed a 9.1% increase in health‑insurance costs without passing out‑of‑pocket costs on to employees.
Board members discussed one amendment to reallocate $37,000 from the county's general government contribution to the Monacan Soil & Water Conservation District so those funds instead flow to the school system's instructional category to reimburse Monacan for in‑school educational programming. After motions and an amendment vote, the board approved the budget and the county's 25‑year capital improvement program by roll call; members present recorded affirmative votes.
The adopted general fund sits near $108 million and the all‑fund budget (which includes utilities and other enterprise funds) was described by staff as larger because of major utility projects such as a $16.9 million Ridgefield booster pumping station included in utilities. Sandlin emphasized no real‑estate tax rate increase in the package and noted prior action that set a data‑center tax increment earlier in the budget process.
What happens next: staff will implement the approved budget and continue CIP planning. The board noted a June 2 audit and finance meeting and additional public hearings on planning issues scheduled later this spring.
