Budget discussions today in Albemarle and Hanover; Envision Hanover process continues with Supervisor workshop
Another version of an experimental newsletter intended to illuminate the role local government plays in a federal system
Today there are just two items for the two largest localities in the Fifth District. Albemarle is wholly contained (except a small sliver!) within the boundaries, but Hanover is split across a couple of districts. Still, the point of this newsletter is intended to raise awareness of local government and so Hanover is included as I try to learn more about how this district is put together.
I’ll have one more of these tomorrow for Lunenburg County, as well as any new candidates that may have filed. This is an experiment in timing and practice as much as anything else! If you’d like it to keep going, please consider a contribution through Patreon. I’m not ready to turn on paid subscriptions here yet, but that’s on the way.
And please share with those you think might be interested. I find it very useful to know how the 24 different localities go through the work. After writing about Albemarle and Charlottesville for many years, I feel myself recharged by writing about the rest. I’m excited to keep doing this work, but could use your help in growing the audience.
Albemarle Board of Supervisors to hold budget work session
Albemarle’s proposed $551.5 million budget for FY24 has been released for a week and a half and last week there was a budget public hearing. I just did a quick search on news.google.com and see no stories about that event and will be writing one up for the next installment of this newsletter. I’m also fairly certain I’ve written the only long-form article about the document. You can read my story from February 25, 2023 here.
Albemarle’s population grew 13.7 percent from 2010 to July 2021 according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Their estimate went up to 115,495 as of July 2022.
With that population comes the need for schools, teachers, police, firefighters, teachers, and additional spending on infrastructure. The proposed budget does not increase the real property tax rate, but does include the additional revenue that came from an average 13.46 percent increase in assessments. Much of the budget this year is intended to prepare for the future. The document’s title is Activating the Strategic Plan to Strengthen our Foundation.
Some in the community are concerned those assessments will hurt people who have lived here on fixed incomes and are not part of the growth trend. Others say the county must spend more on services. For many years, no one showed up at the budget public hearings. I’ll write out their comments more specifically for tomorrow, but the public hearing will inform a series of work sessions between Supervisors and staff that begin today with a work session at 3 p.m. (meeting info)
They will review pages 49 through 232 of the budget. These range from an overview to non-department expenditures. This is the link to the full budget document. Whether you would like to see the government spend less or you would like to see the government spend more, the conversation must start with the details.
Hanover County Supervisors to review housing, non-motorized mobility at comp plan work session
The seven-member Hanover County Board of Supervisors will begin their day today at noon with a work session on the Comprehensive Plan followed by a regular meeting at 2 p.m. (meeting page)
The name given to Hanover County’s Comprehensive Plan review is “Envision Hanover” and has been underway since October 2021. Public hearings are anticipated for August and September.
“At the workshop scheduled for March 8, 2023, the project team will seek guidance from the Board of Supervisors on concepts related to active living (pedestrian/bicycle mobility), housing, and the County’s rural areas,” reads the staff report. “There will also be a status update and information provided on the recently completed public engagement events and future outreach.”
There’s also a proclamation recognizing this week as Women in Construction Week for 2023.
“The construction community, represented by Richmond NAWIC Chapter 141, has been a driving force in fostering community development through renovation and beautification projects; promotion of skilled trades careers; and a positive vision of the future,” reads part of the proclamation.
In the regular meeting, there will be a presentation on the second quarter financial report from Finance Director Lauren Null.
“Total year revenues are projected to be $322.0 million or approximately $9.6 million higher than the appropriated budget,” Null writes in the staff report. “General property taxes are projected to increase from the prior year by approximately $20.7 million and exceed the appropriated budget by $9.4 million.”
That will be followed by a presentation and resolution to appropriate an additional $3.313 to the Montpelier Recreation Center and Library project. That
“The requested increase is due to the addition of lights for the ballfield, additional parking requirements, additional necessary sitework, motorized gym divider, an exterior restroom facility, and inflationary costs,” reads the staff report.
Then there will be a discussion of the FY24 budget. There will be resolutions to set public hearings and to set a public hearing on the Declaration of a Surplus for FY23. Budget adoption is anticipated for April 12 following an April 5 public hearing.
During the closed session there will be a discussion on a potential lawsuit related to an outstanding zoning violation as well as a discussion on the disposition of publicly held property.
