NK can get by with 73-cent tax rate, administrator says

New Kent Board of Supervisors members could be looking at lowering the county’s proposed real estate tax rate for next year to 73 cents. But there is some discussion in the works about providing additional money support for county schools.

During an April 14 budget work session, supervisors decided to advertise for public hearing a 75 cents per $100 of assessed value real estate tax rate for the 2008-09 fiscal year that begins July 1. But just two weeks later at another work session on April 29, board members learned the county could get by with 73 cents.

“Right now, I’m comfortable with 73 cents based on current revenue projections,” County Administrator John Budesky told supervisors.

But some board members are leaning toward doing more for schools. Budesky originally proposed handing schools $814,000 in new county money. That amount rose to just over $1 million, but is now back down to $814,000.

Schools are slated to receive almost $10.5 million in local dollars under the proposed budget authorized for advertisement. Schools had requested just over $10.9 million.

“We could discuss extra money for schools,” Budesky said. “The extra 2 cents in what will be advertised gives us 2 cents of flexibility.”

County officials, meanwhile, have scheduled a May 28 public hearing on the county’s proposed $54.1 million budget and 75-cent tax rate. Adoption, for now, is set for June 9.

In other budget-related matters, the county is considering a move to scale back expanded sewage treatment capacity at its Parham Landing Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Plans had called for upping capacity to 3 million gallons per day, but that amount could be reduced to 2 million. Budesky said lower than expected revenue amounts are coming in for the county’s water/sewer system.

“We do not want to build something we’ll not use for 10 years and it becomes a maintenance problem,” he told supervisors.

Also, less Capital Improvement Plan money will be earmarked next year for the eagerly anticipated 100-acre Criss Cross Park. Tentatively, $250,000 had been placed in the plan for next year, but Budesky said the amount has been lowered to $185,000.

In other business during last week’s work session, supervisors opted to schedule a June 9 public hearing on proposed standards for temporary land uses in the county. Once approved, the standards will become part of New Kent’s zoning law.

The proposal covers mobile food vending operations in the county and now includes standards for food vendors whose businesses fall under “stationary.” An example is Bill’s Hot Dogs in Providence Forge whose owner, Bill Jennings, has expressed fear that he would be forced out of business under the originally proposed standards.

County Attorney Jeff Summers recommended that supervisors advertise the change to include operations such as Jennings’ and address the matter in a public hearing. Jennings’ business, meanwhile, appears to be safe.

“I think we can tell Mr. Jennings nobody’s coming knocking on his door,” Summers told the board.

Also, a May 12 public hearing on a request by George Jr. and Rebecca Philbates to rezone just over 4 acres across Route 249 from Philbates Auto Wrecking and Towing from agricultural to business limited for building a mini-storage building and lot has been canceled.

The Philbates withdrew their request during last week’s work session after hearing from supervisors that their application needs more work. County planning staff, meanwhile, contends that the proposed use conflicts with the county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan that designates the area in question as “rural land.”

The application, however, is expected to return. George Philbates told the board, “I’m willing to proffer whatever is necessary to get this built.”