New Kent’s Board of Supervisors adopts $271 million budget for FY2026-2027

By Andre Jones | May 27, 2026 8:45 pm

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors adopted its FY2026-27 budget and tax levies during Tuesday morning’s work session.

Board members unanimously adopted the $271,427,179 figure at the meeting. As part of that adoption, the real estate tax is set at 58 cents per $100 of assessed value. That number marks a four-cent tax increase from the equalized rate of 54 cents. The four cents are slated to be used to fund capital improvement projects (CIP).

Leading the cost of the CIP total of $146,405,155 are two major projects that are scheduled to begin construction during the upcoming cycle. The construction of a new elementary school ($60 million) and the construction of a new courthouse along with renovations of the current courthouse ($70 million). The motion for the CIP projects passed 4-0, with District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn abstaining due to a conflict of interest.

One of the discussion points prior to adopting the new year’s CIP centered around the location of the new elementary school. While preliminary plans and discussions centered around a three-story building located behind the current New Kent Elementary School, board members expressed concerns about the location.

“I believe there could be a better place to put it,” commented District 3 representative Amy Pearson. “If we put the school at that location, it wouldn’t solve the problem of traffic coming into that school every day.”

Evelyn chimed in, saying there should be another location, preferably along the 155 (Courthouse Road) corridor.

A few more CIP projects’ fates were also determined at the board meeting. Approval was met for the construction of Fire Station #2 in Quinton at a cost of $6.442 million. Two projects, however, have been tabled for the future. The construction of the Wahrani community building has been tabled, as well as the next phase of construction at the New Kent High School Athletic Complex which would have seen new restrooms, a new concession stand, and new locker rooms. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway commented that they plan to work with the schools in discussing how they can figure ways to fund the projects going forward.

The public utility fund budget, which is a self-sustaining fund, passed unanimously at a total of $9,580,076. The sewar and water rate will increase by four percent, with the connection and availability fees also increasing by four percent.