County budget passes amid protests over reassessment

Despite urging from some residents to toss out the county’s recent real estate reassessment and new tax rate that followed, New Kent’s Board of Supervisors passed by a 4-1 vote a $54.5 million ($73.4 million when public utilities are factored in) budget for 2008-09.

The action came during the board’s June 9 meeting. District 5 Supervisor Ray Davis cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he could not support the budget since the figure is based on the reassessment.

Less than two weeks earlier during a public hearing on the budget, Davis motioned to throw out reassessment results, drawing applause from residents who claimed substantial errors were made by the firm hired to perform the work, Tri-County Appraisals. Davis’ motion, however, fell 4-1.

Some of those same residents took one last shot at getting supervisors to reverse course during the public comment session at last week’s meeting. Lanexa resident Rick Bishop pointed to an appeal underway in Accomack County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore after residents there complained about reassessment results also handed in by Tri-County.

Another Lanexa resident, Wayne Hogue, said the county should get back some of the $500,000 spent on the reassessment if results are found to be inaccurate.

“Mr. Davis’ call to throw out the reassessment speaks volumes because the board knows the assessment was a mess,” Hogue told supervisors. “What are you going to do for the citizens of New Kent County?”

Supervisors proceeded on since state law requires counties to have budgets in place before July 1. The board, however, dropped an advertised real estate tax rate of 75 cents per $100 of assessed value to 73 cents, also by a 4-1 vote with Davis in opposition.

Other budget highlights include reducing the county’s tax on machinery and tools from $3 to $1.50 and an 8 percent across the board increase in water/sewer rates and fees for those customers hooked on to county-owned systems. Personal property levies remain the same at $3.75. The overall budget figure includes $27 million for county schools of which $10.5 million is local dollars.

“This [budget process] has been very difficult,” District 2 Supervisor Marty Sparks told the crowd at last week’s meeting.

“We’ve anguished over this and put a lot of thought into it,” he said. “We have a lot of needs. These are difficult economic times and the economy is not the best.

“We gave it a tremendous amount of thought, and I hope what we have done is the best for the people,” he said.

County Administrator John Budesky agreed, saying county staff worked to keep taxes as low as possible, remain fiscally responsible, and avoid placing additional financial burden on residents.

“There were some very difficult decisions,” he said. “Every person I had opportunity to meet with impacted by recommendations in some way or form.”

By 5-0 votes, supervisors approved just over $2 million in capital improvement projects for the next fiscal year and a list of fees the county imposes. Capital projects for next year are all cash-funded with no borrowing involved.

In another matter at last week’s meeting, Davis said the county is working on measures aimed at conserving water in the event another drought strikes the county this summer.

“We want to remind people to be cautious on how they use water,” he said. “We don’t want to put mandatory water controls on people unless we have to.”

In the aftermath of last week’s record high temperatures, county officials said cooling centers are available for public use this summer at the county’s three fire stations. Residents can call 966-9500, but those in need of immediate assistance should call 911.

Supervisors, meanwhile, learned that four major county construction projects are underway and all, for now, are coming in under budget.

County general services director Jim Tacosa told the board the sheriff’s annex is finished and the final step involves transferring the county’s 911-dispatch center, a move that is taking place this week.

Substantial completion on the county’s vehicle maintenance facility, located near the new high school, is expected by August, but weather and design delays have slowed the work pace on the human services building being built behind New Kent Post Office. Substantial completion of that project is scheduled for next March, but Tacosa said it could be difficult reaching that goal.

Renovation on the second floor of the county’s courthouse has been slowed by the design phase, Tacosa said. Since an upstairs courtroom is being added, there may not be room for all of the office space originally envisioned, he said. Substantial completion is slated for next March.