The Hanover Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed County budget on Wednesday, April 7, at 6 p.m.
Hanover County Administrator John A. Budesky has proposed a $513 million County Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1. The all-funds budget represents an increase of about 7% from the current year.
No property tax rate increase is proposed. Budesky said the continued strength of the County’s revenues and the cuts that were made to the current year’s budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic create an opportunity to be pro-active in addressing some major issues.
Those issues, he said, include keeping salaries for teachers and public safety employees competitive with others in the market; meeting the needs of the five-year capital improvements plan; and maintaining our focus on the future.
“This budget shows where we are making our investments,” Budesky told the Board. “It reflects the needs and interests of our community.” The budget also aligns with the Board’s strategic goals, he noted.
The largest components of the operational budget are Education and Public Safety, with 42% of expenditures devoted to education and 15% to public safety.
A 2.5% compensation increase is proposed for all County and School employees with strong job performance. The budget also includes targeted market adjustments in the salaries of Schools and Public Safety employees.
“We want to make sure we can retain our most talented public servants and attract new talent,” Budesky said.
Of the nearly 15 new positions in the non-schools part of the budget, nearly 10 are in public safety.
Major capital construction projects funded in the proposed FY22 budget include a new fire station in the Mechanicsville area; developing new courtroom space in the Courts Building; and support for roadway improvements, including widening sections of Pole Green Road, U.S. Rt. 360 and Atlee Station Road.
Budesky identified the following issues he wants to focus on this year:
- Long-term capital planning
- Roads
- An update to the Comprehensive Plan Use Plan
- An update to the Economic Development Strategic Plan
- Enhancing citizen engagement and communications efforts
- Tourism opportunities
- Increasing broadband options
All details on the County Administrator’s proposed budget can be read here.