Happy tax day

 

Appropriately, the Goochland Board of Supervisors set county tax rates for calendar year 2025, approved the fee schedule, and adopted the budget for FY26, which begins on July 1, at its April 15 meeting.

The final budget of $148.5 million, includes an additional $300k for schools, presumably to fund crucial items like interventionists, and funding for six career fire-rescue employees.

Although the tax rate remains unchanged at 53 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, it represents a tax increase of 8.2 percent due to increased assessments and new construction.

Supervisors acknowledged the increase and contended it was justified to deal with the impact of inflation on county operations.

Jonathan Lyle, District 5, who, early in the budget process, which began last fall, advocated for a modest reduction in the tax rate, conceded that retention of the 53-cent rate was warranted by inflationary pressures on the county. “I vote in favor of this knowing that I’m voting for a tax increase because we have increased needs. I appreciate the work that my colleagues have put into this. You’ve humored me well when I asked questions, but I feel more informed as to why these tax increases are something that I believe our citizens want us to deliver. I’m voting to increase my own taxes.”   

For that increase, Lyle said the citizens are getting more deputies, more fire-rescue employees, more compensation for our dispatches, better schools, all of which take resources to fund. He thanked Finance Director Carla Cave  and staff for their hard work on the budget.

Neil Spoonhower, District 2, said that citizens have told him to both reduce the rate to give landowners relief while others wanted a rate increase to improve funding for core services like public safety and schools.

“My conversation with them revolves round the role of government. It’s interesting to hear both sides. We have made significant changes.” He referenced the reduction in personal property taxes from $3.75 to $2.99 a few years ago, which brought in less revenue and had an impact on the county’s bottom line and budget.

Since he took office in 2020, Spoonhower observed, there have been uncertainties, especially when Covid hit. That year, the supervisors crafted two different budgets, the second a bare bones strategy to fund core services if a significant number of citizens were unable to pay their taxes. He also pointed out that when real estate values plummeted significantly during the great recession, the tax rate was not increased to deal with the shortfall, but rather, spending was reduced. 

“There is a strategy to this, and I am committed to keeping as much money as possible in your pocket because you spend it better than I do.” Standing at 53 cents, he said, was a prudent decision.

Charlie Vaughters, District 4 stressed that “when we make these decisions about tax rates, we take it on the chin because people write that (tax) check. It is us managing the best we can with state and federal policies pressing on us.”

He contended that the “printing of money” makes the price of everything the county needs to operate increase. “With inflation comes higher pay. Salaries are the biggest part of the school and public safety budget. Because we’re (local) government boots on the ground we’re not nameless and faceless like a lot of our representatives in Richmond and Washington. We do it (the budget) with a lot of thought, consideration, and mindfulness because we want to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. When Richmond (state government) passes a mandate we have to follow it. We get the least help from the state to fund our schools, and with that I am incredibly proud that we fund our schools and provide all the services the way we do.”

Vaughters alluded to the capital needs of the county and the big-ticket items on the horizon. He said that the annual budget is a piece of a larger puzzle, and the board has to be mindful of having funds to meet its obligations both down the road and for the next quarter.

The audit committee will meet before the May 6 board meeting. Hopefully, suggestions about possible uses for cash reserves, and other fiscal strategies will be discussed.

The supervisors authorized the county to file a proffer amendment application to remove access requirements for a four-lot subdivision on Pond View Lane in District 4 to correct an error that would have put the development in violation of its own rules. District 1 Supervisor Jonathan Christy expressed frustration at the situation but approved of the matter. He issued a caution to developers who seek amendments to proffers—essentially promises—made during rezoning applications that “we’ll hold your feet to the fire. We have to have some kind of accountability during the development process and shouldn’t have them come back to the board to remove proffers."

We hope Christy’s words are taken to heart. All too often a developer submits a rezoning plan with proffers to sweeten the deal then returns to the board when construction begins asking for a revision because the proffers cannot be implemented as proposed.

Public hearings

The evening session agenda included four public hearings for business, rather than residential, land use items, all of which were unanimously approved.

·         A request by Strickland Manufacturing to amend a conditional use permit to remove RV and boat storage from permitted uses and amend the conceptual plan to show an additional building at 1090 Merchants Lane in the Goochland Industrial Park. Goochland is the sites of US Headquarters for Strickland, which fabricates and sells earth moving and demolition equipment. In 2023, a fire destroyed part of its operation. The amendment will permit Strickland to add a second building and relocate its welding shop. Strickland was recently recognized by Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin for its plan to invest $3.3 million to expand its operations in the county and add 20 new jobs. EDA Chair Ben Slone spoke in support of Strickland, which was recently awarded a $20k expansion incentive from the EDA.

·         Renewal of a CUP for Rodney Harrison, whose first CUP was approved in 1988, for retail use.

·         Amend a CUP for Columbia Gas Transmission LLC to add a new office building at 1436 Hermitage Road. The Columbia facility, located along its gas line, has been there since 1970.

·         A rezoning application filed by Janine and John (Cory) Hoffer to rezone two acres from residential general to residential office at 12900 Patterson Avenue for use as a professional office. Improvements to the property include demolition of derelict structures and removing one of two existing driveways. Additional vegetative buffering and screening will be added to comply with overlay district requirements. This is located near the Creekmore Office Park.

·         Amend a CUP to add a home-based business and increase permitted square footage for a detached accessory family housing unit at 375 Songbird Lane.

 

At the close of public hearings, Spoonhower observed that at the start of 2024 the board made a commitment to support business and focus on commercial development. The five hearings were all about business use and no one spoke in opposition. “Yay team,” he said.

County administrator search

Board Chair Tom Winfree, District 3, announced that the supervisors will meet in closed session “at an undisclosed location” in the next few weeks to interview candidates for county administrator. Closed sessions for this purpose are permitted by law to protect the privacy of those involved.