Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears FY27 budget presentation: $277.4M advertised, proposed borrowings for school and courthouse; 5‑cent increase advertised
Summary
County staff presented the advertised FY27 general government budget of about $277.4 million (including school funding), an advertised 5‑cent tax increase and proposed borrowing of roughly $135 million for an elementary school and new courthouse; staff also outlined a 4% proposed water/sewer rate increase in the public utilities fund.
County staff presented the advertised FY27 general government budget and public utilities budgets at the Board of Supervisors meeting May 11.
Mr. Hathaway told the board the advertised general government budget totals $277,428,171 and includes a proposed 5‑cent increase in the real estate tax rate. "The primary driver for that is about $152 million in capital projects that have been proposed for next fiscal year. Of that amount $135 million is proposed for borrowing and it consists of two projects: the construction of an elementary school as well as the construction of a new courthouse," he said.
Staff also described a public utilities proposal that would increase water and sewer rates and connection fees by 4%. The budget presentation listed the school budget at $56,483,363 and noted an adjustment staff previously recommended that could lower the tax increase to 4 cents if the board applies additional measures, including $12.5 million in debt‑service support in the plan.
The presentation included personnel additions staff proposed for FY27, including three patrol deputies (positions already authorized to begin hiring this fiscal year) and three EMS supervisor positions for fire and rescue; staff also recommended salary decompression adjustments for non‑public safety employees and a $200,000 transfer to the school operating budget for transportation.
The board opened and closed the public hearing with no public speakers signed up. Board members debated timing and sequencing of capital projects (fire station, courthouse, school) and asked staff for refined options prior to adopting the budget.
Next steps: The board will consider budget adoption in upcoming meetings and may adjust the advertised tax rate or capital borrowing before final adoption; staff said the board must adopt the budget by June 30.
