New Kent budget of $98 million for FY2018-19 receives supervisors’ approval

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors adopted its FY2018-2019 budget of $98,022,891 at Wednesday morning’s work session.

Members voted 4-0 to move forward with the proposed figure, with District 2 representative Tommy Tiller absent due to an earlier obligation.

Approximately $64,791,638 will go to school and governmental operations for the fiscal year. Schools will receive $32,006,377 for day-to-day operations, a decrease of $180,000 after school officials advised county leaders of savings in insurance. Of that $180,000, an additional $60,000 was added to the general fund, making it a grand total of $19,207,622. The other $120,000 will be placed in the school set aside fund for debt services, bringing that to a total of $8,347,147. Social services are slated to receive $1,520,638 for the upcoming cycle.

Of the $98 million budget, approximately $33,231,253 is designated to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The big ticket item on the plan is the borrowing of $28 million for the construction of a new elementary school. The other major item in the county’s CIP for next year is $3.3 million for the construction of Pine Fork Park.

The tax rate is set at 82 cents per $100 of assessed value. With the equalized rate assessed at 78 cents per $100 of assessed value, this projects to a four-cent tax increase. County employees who meet certain criteria will receive a one-time bonus, with full-time staff receiving $1,000 and part-time employees receiving $500.

The public utility fund, which is self-sustaining and paid by users, will operate on a budget of $5,668,924 next year. Water and sewer rates will not increase nor will connection and availability fees. There is also no tax rate increase in the Bottoms Bridge Service District. Public utility CIP projects include replacing storage tanks and foundations at Sherwood and Whitehouse ($300,000) and providing a backup well at Sherwood Estates ($250,000).