Charles City Board of Supervisors adopt 2018-19 budget

By Andre Jones | May 23, 2018 2:22 am

Charles City’s Board of Supervisors adopted its FY2018-19 budget at Tuesday night’s regularly board meeting.

County leaders approved the $21,010,451 plan recommended by County Administrator Michelle Johnson and her staff. Of that amount, approximately $14,330,557 are local dollars. The general fund accounts for $7,481,251 of the local figure.

Charles City’s schools will have an operating budget of $5,504,573 for the upcoming year. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is listed at $1,766,464. Of that amount, approximately $665,000 in local dollars will support the school’s request to address issues at the complex, including concerns involving the HVAC system. On the county’s side, $698,750 in the CIP has been designated to replace the Kimages Treatment Plant.

As a focus for safety in the county and move to full-time professional personnel, approximately $769,088 has been designated to assist fire/EMS in the county. The Social Services department will operate on a budget of $352,709.

The county’s real estate tax rate will remain at the current rate of 76 cents per $100 of assessed value. The equalized rate is set at 73 cents per $100 of assessed value, meaning the tax rate is technically a three-cent increase.

Three positions were created in the upcoming budget cycle for the county. Hiring an information technology help desk person, a new employee for public works, and a director of Fire and Rescue services will be new jobs for the county. County staff will receive raises based on performances and the county also absorbed the salary of a school resource officer as a grant to fund the position expired.

Supervisors unanimously adopted the budget 3-0. In other action taken by county leaders:

–Approved a resolution requesting the Circuit Court of Charles City to order a referendum on the possibility to levy a meals tax. The tax will be in the amount of four-percent and assist with funding fire and emergency services need of the county. The tax is also a pass-through tax, meaning it does not impact the retailer and comes directly from the customer. The referendum is expected to appear on the November ballot.

–Approved a request to send a proposed ordinance to authorize a lodging tax in the amount of two percent in the county to public hearing. The tax will impact places that charge for the occupancy of rooms (including AirBNBs) for lodging purposes. The public hearing is scheduled for the June 26 meeting.