James City County real estate tax will decrease with proposed budget

James City County proposed budget for 2019 would cut the real estate tax by 2 cents and fund new school buses and public safety positions.

James City County’s Interim County Administrator Bill Porter released his proposed Fiscal Year 2019-20 financial plan for James City County on March 30. The proposed plan for FY2019 is 4.2% over the FY2018 budget at $204.5M. The budget incorporates new legislation, Senate Bill 942, which, if enacted in law, will increase the state sales tax for the localities in the Historic Triangle by 1%. During this upcoming fiscal year, the budget incorporates many of the operational initiatives from the County’s Strategic Plan, and provides a two-cent real estate tax reduction, if Senate Bill 942 becomes law.

A 2-cent real estate tax cut would decrease the rate to 82 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Highlights include:

  • The General Fund increases by 4.2% or approximately $8.2M.
  • Senate Bill 942 requires that 50% of the additional 1% state sales tax be retained by the State and be used for tourism purposes and the remaining 50% would be distributed back to James City County.
  • The additional sales tax is estimated at $5.5 million. This budget includes two-cent real estate tax reduction for County citizens, if SB 942 becomes law.
  • The results of the County’s Compensation Study are reflected in the two year financial plan.
  • The budget reflects full funding of the Superintendent’s request of an additional $5.2 million for FY2019 school operations.
  • To address the growing demand for public safety, the proposed budget includes funding for three additional police officer positions (for a sixth police zone) and six new firefighters (for a sixth fire station) each fiscal year.
  • The County’s five-year capital improvement program, totaling $108.2M, includes a focus on school projects and public safety, including the addition of a new fire station.
  • The James City Service Authority (JCSA) proposes to implement the fourth year of its five-year rate increase with sewer fees increasing to $3.08 and three water tiers increasing $.43 to $2.02 per thousand gallons.

The proposed budget is available for review on the County’s website.

After a series of work sessions and community meetings, the Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposed FY2019-20 County budget and JCSA budget at the May 8 meeting at 5 p.m. Once adopted, the FY2019 budget will cover July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 and the FY2020 budget will cover July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020.

Opportunities for citizen input are as follows:

  • April 10 – 5 p.m., Public Hearing on proposed County budget and JCSA budget during the Board of Supervisors meeting at the County Government Center (101 Mounts Bay Road, Building F).
  • April 12 – 6:30 p.m., Community Meeting at Legacy Hall (4301 New Town Avenue).
  • April 16 – 6:30 p.m., Community Meeting at James City County Library (7770 Croaker Road).

The Board of Supervisors will hold budget work sessions at 4 p.m. on April 24 and 26 in the Board’s work session room at 101 Mounts Bay Road, Building F. Although there are no opportunities for public comments during work sessions, they can be viewed on JCC TV Cox Cable channel 48 and 1048, and streamed live and on demand at jamescitycountyva.gov.

The proposed FY2019-20 budget can be viewed and downloaded at jamescitycountyva.gov/budget and copies are available for reading at public libraries and the County’s Satellite Services Office, 3127 Forge Road, Toano.

Psst, I’m a real estate agent.

This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg/ Hampton Roads/ Richmond VA area and his expertise helping buyers and sellers in the local real estate market.

If you are a homeowner searching for someone innovative to sell your home I would love to share my thoughts on marketing. You can read some of the stories I have written about the homes I have sold here.

Additionally, I have helped hundreds of folks find their dream home/ community and would love to help you find yours in Williamsburg, Yorktown, New Kent, VA Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight Poquoson as well as Richmond.

You can reach me by phone at 757-254-8136 or email  John@MrWilliamsburg.com

I look forward to serving your real estate needs!

Best,

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