New Kent supervisors approve $64.8 million 2014-15 budget

New Kent supervisors approved a $64,807,108 budget for FY2014-15 at yesterday’s (May 28) morning work session. The budget calls for a one-cent reduction in real estate tax to 84 cents per $100 of assessed value.

A couple of changes were noted by county administrator Rodney Hathaway prior to the budget being approved. Hathaway noted that a proposed fee on fireworks will remain the same for the upcoming year, and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be reduced by $175,000 after removal of the replacement of a tank at George Watkins Elementary School. The CIP is now $9,190,500 for the next fiscal year.

With the state budget in flux, supervisors took an extra precaution in their motion. If no state budget is approved by July 1, appropriations for the county schools will be limited to a total of $4,332,190 until September. If a budget is still not reached by the opening of schools, county supervisors will review the budget to see if further reductions are needed.

“A lot of counties are facing the same thing we are and some schools may not open if a budget by the state isn’t adopted,” said Hathaway. “If no budget is met by July 1, there is no guarantee that the state will reimburse us any money.”

County schools also received a little relief. Supervisors elected to trim an earlier proposed reduction of $200,000 to $150,000. For FY14-15, schools will receive $27,455,849 in funding.

Other contingency plans in place if a budget is not met at the state level include freezing travel and delaying items in the CIP. Supervisors added that steps are being taken to ensure the operating of schools and county offices to the best of their ability if state funding is not in place.

In an unrelated issue, New Kent’s stormwater ordinance will head to public hearing on June 9. Supervisors received a favorable recommendation from the planning commission with a 9-0 vote to maintain control of land-disturbing activities in the county.