No speakers at New Kent’s public hearing on proposed FY2019-20 budget

New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors’ public hearing on the proposed FY2019-2020 budget yielded no speakers Monday night.

A rehash of the proposed $69,851,662 budget was presented by County Administrator Rodney Hathaway at the meeting. Of that amount, approximately $35,026,270 is designated for schools. The real estate tax will remain at 82 cents per $100 of assessed values, signifying no tax increase for this year. The budget is expected to see an increase in revenues of $1,210,281 for the upcoming year, resulting in a proposed five-percent cost of living raise for county employees and the hiring of eight new positions.

The Capital Improvement Projects total $2,494,862 for the upcoming year, with replacement of school buses and sheriff’s vehicles accounting for approximately $741,828 of the items. The public utility fund (which is self-sustaining) will see an increase in its budget to $9,318,901 due to the Water Systems Interconnections project. There are no increases in the water and sewer rates, connection and availability fees, or in the Bottoms Bridge Service District tax rate.

By law, supervisors cannot take action on the budget for ten days. Action is expected to take place at the board’s Apr. 24 work session.

In other actions by New Kent’s board of supervisors:

–Denied a recommendation 2-3 to amend the comprehensive plan in adding an appendix entitled “A Water Resources Element”. The amendment was comprised of text amendments and mapping to address requirements in the VA State Administrative Code. Supervisors commented that Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality continues to force unfunded mandates on the county.

–Approved the FY2020-2025 secondary six-year plan unanimously 5-0. This plan will provide some funding for specialized projects on county roads.