News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 14, 2026
Local News
Charles City supervisor questions upcoming budget, funding for CIP projects
An Apr. 7 budget work session for Charles City County focused on addressing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. But for one county supervisor, the desire for more spending and apparent double designations in some line items raised a series of questions. Charles City District 1 Supervisor Ryan Patterson posed nearly two hours of questions during the work session about the county’s proposed FY2026-2027 budget. Charles City County Administrator Keith Rogers Jr. represented the proposed $48,456,117 budget during the work session. Rogers reiterated that there is no tax increase and that he expects an improved collection rate on taxes to contribute…
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Pagano resigns from New Kent School Board
Keith Pagano has stepped down from his position as the District 1 representative and board chairman for the New Kent County School Board. The announcement came during an Apr. 7 special meeting of the school board. After District 4 representative Ron Vaught was elected as the new chairman, he made a statement that Pagano, who was in attendance, resigned due to a change in residency. By law, in order to be a representative of a district, the person must live in the district. New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols indicated to the board that they will need to appoint…
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Charles City’s $48 million proposed budget includes no tax increase, focuses on CIP
A proposed budget for Charles City County will see no tax increase, but nearly $7 million more needed to address capital improvement needs. Charles City County Administrator Keith Rogers Jr. presented a $48,456,117 proposed FY2026-27 budget during a Monday afternoon board meeting. That figure is up 16 percent from the county’s current budget of $41,638,855. Citing the need to address capital needs, Rogers’ presentation focused on more than $8 million in addressing the county’s wastewater plant issues. Under the proposal, funding will be used to address issues at the Kimages Wastewater Plant ($3 million), the Courthouse Complex plant ($2.5 million),…
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New Kent proposed tax rate drops by one cent, may fall by additional penny
At New Kent’s March 9 regular board meeting, New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway proposed a budget of $266,424,821 that included a five-cent tax raise that would be used to cover Capital Improvement Projects. After receiving a directive from county supervisors at a follow-up budget retreat, at least one penny has come off that projection. Hathaway presented an updated figure during the March 25 New Kent Board of Supervisors work session that showed a four-cent increase, making the real estate tax rate at 58 cents per $100 of assessed value. And another penny isn’t off the table. During the updated…
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Richmond man slammed with three-year jail term for distributing meth in New Kent
A Richmond man will spend three years in prison for distributing drugs in New Kent County. Bradley Dale Tomlin, 33, entered a no contest plea to one count of distributing methamphetamine as part of an agreement reached Monday during proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented during the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 1, 2024, the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force conducted a controlled buy, with Tomlin identified as a suspect. A…
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New Kent schools back $56 million budget, new elementary school project at joint work session
New Kent County Public Schools continue to support their cause for funding and the construction of a new elementary school. School officials presented a $56,483,363 budget to county leaders as part of Friday morning’s joint work session between the school board and supervisors at the Providence Forge Forestry Center. Of the aforementioned amount, the school’s general fund is being requested in the amount of $52,468,218, up seven percent from the current year. The school’s textbook fund received a small bump, but the nutrition fund is projected to decrease by almost $1.5 million. The school grand fund is expected to grow…
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Quinton woman indicted on sex trafficking charges in New Kent
A Quinton woman who was the subject of an investigation involving allegedly aiding with prostitution of a minor has been indicted by a New Kent grand jury. Victoria Anne Creps, 27, of the 8300 block of Plum Grove Drive, was indicted on one count each of sex trafficking and aiding with the prostitution of a minor during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. According to the indictment, Creps was an individual subject to an investigation stemming from a Mar. 15, 2025 incident. The investigation led to her subsequent arrest and the aforementioned indictments. In other indictments certified by…
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Man indicted on embezzlement charge in Charles City
A man who allegedly stole money from his employer in Charles City County has been indicted by a Charles City grand jury. Tillman John Norris, 47, currently of Middle Peninsula Regional Jail, was indicted on a single count of embezzlement during Mar. 3 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The indictment alleges that between Oct. 1-31, 2025, the defendant stole more than $1,000 from D.J. Logging LLC while he worked as an employee for the company.
Providence Forge man to serve nine months for possessing cocaine in New Kent
A Providence Forge man will spend nine months in jail for possessing cocaine in New Kent County. Jamar Ricardo Hendricks, 42, learned of his period of incarceration as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a Feb. 23 trial, Hendricks entered into a plea agreement to two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II substance with intent to distribute. During that trial, evidence presented by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick revealed that on Mar. 5, 2019, Hendricks was the target of a control buy. The defendant met up with a confidential informant at the Pit…
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Capital Improvement Projects dominat New Kent’s $266 million proposed budget for FY2026-27
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects have come to the forefront in New Kent’s proposed FY2026-27 budget. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented a budget of $266,424,821 for the upcoming fiscal year. The current year’s budget is $136,543,336. The jump of nearly $130 million in the county’s proposed budget stems from two main CIP projects. The first project is the construction of a new courthouse and renovation of the old courthouse that comes in with a price tag of $70 million. Hathaway said that the $70 million would cover the construction of a new building, as well as renovating the…
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