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Rockbridge County supervisors hear FY27 budget; staff says draft balanced, no tax increases recommended
Summary
At a May 4 public hearing the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation saying the FY27 draft budget is balanced and recommends no tax-rate increases; staff noted reserves would fund some capital costs, dental insurance costs rose and a 3% employee raise is proposed. No public speakers addressed the board.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing May 4 on the proposed fiscal 2027 budget, and county presenter Mr. Harrison told the board that "the current draft before you for FY27 beginning July 1st of 2026 is balanced." The board received no public comments and will consider final adoption at its May 11 meeting.
Mr. Harrison summarized the budget process and key drivers, saying the finance committee worked multiple meetings to close an earlier approximately $1.3 million gap and present a balanced draft with no recommended tax increases. He reported the county is using reserves for capital projects and EMS recovery fees and has set aside $483,561 from capital reserves to cover initial interest if a proposed recreation center bond proceeds.
On tax matters, Mr. Harrison said the real property tax rate remains at $0.64 per $100 of assessed value and estimated that one cent on that rate would generate about $331,335; he also referenced yields for personal-property-related cents in the draft record (some personal-property formatting in the transcript was unclear). On personnel and benefits, Mr. Harrison said dental insurance costs rose 24.2% — the first such increase in three years — and that the draft proposes a 3% raise for county employees while keeping employee health-contribution levels unchanged. He also flagged uncertainty in the state budget that could affect funding for the school division and constitutional officers.
The draft CIP included line items for county capital projects, school division capital projects, central dispatch needs and a $12,000 railroad capital item; several totals in the transcript record use unclear numeric formatting, so precise totals are not stated here from that record. Mr. Harrison said the board would need to appropriate any state funds that arrive after budget adoption separately.
Chairman McDaniel opened the public hearing and asked for oral comments; no one present or online signed up or wished to speak, and the chair closed the hearing. After brief board remarks — including Supervisor Tori Brown saying she was "taking it in" at her first meeting and Supervisor Hart thanking staff for clarifications and an updated school debt schedule — a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by roll-call vote (all members voting yes). The board will reconvene on May 11 to consider adoption of the budget and CIP.
