Tax increase removed as Charles City supervisors approve $18.8 million budget for FY15-16

After county citizens voiced their opposition to a four-cent increase on the county’s real estate tax rate, Charles City supervisors elected to keep the rate the same in approving the FY2015-16 budget.

Tuesday evening’s unanimous vote to operate the county on $18,882,493 for the next fiscal year came with two major changes in the proposal. With the first adjustment to keep the real estate tax rate at 72 cents per $100, the second major revision came as a proposal to transfer more money from a $1.5 million settlement with Waste Management to the budget to support the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Proposed in the original figure was transfer of $500,000 from the settlement to the CIP as well as using the aforementioned proposed tax increase and carry-over funds to put approximately $1,103,200 in an account for those projects. Now, $323,000 that was expected to be generated from the proposed tax increase will be replaced with an additional $300,000 from the settlement, making the total transfer $800,000 to the CIP. Addition of carryover funds means the plan to start with will have $1,080,000.

“We thought it was best not to raise taxes after listening to the comments from citizens,” said District 1 supervisor and board chairman Gilbert Smith. “We took a look at all possibilities during a meeting Monday and determined this was the best way to go.”

No changes have been made in the expenditure side, as all departments and agencies are expected to be fully-funded in accordance to the original plan. Schools will also receive funds they requested.