Rappahannock County’s $31 million proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is inching forward, and while the Board of Supervisors has identified some savings and spending cuts, the plan still calls for a controversial increase in property taxes.
An April 21 public hearing on the plan will provide an opportunity for residents to voice their views and pose questions to the supervisors, who are charged both with adopting a final budget by June 2, and making sure it balances, with revenues covering expenditures.
Property taxes represent the county’s largest funding source, bringing in 49% of the revenue, while the schools claim 52% of the spending. The county administrator’s budget proposal, which provides a starting point for the supervisors’ consideration, calls for hiking the real estate tax to 57 cents per $100 of assessed property value, up from the current 55 cents. The levy that covers fire and rescue operations would rise by a penny.
Supervisors, anticipating that the Trump administration’s tariffs will cause higher prices throughout the economy, have expressed the hope that residents can be spared any increase in county taxes. Through a succession of working sessions last month, the supervisors found $65,277 in added revenues, while shaving spending by $5,545.
The resulting gain of $70,822 falls far short of the $384,446 that would be raised by the proposed increase in real estate taxes. As a result, supervisors will continue their hunt for savings and revenue.
The supervisors may look to Rappahannock’s visitors once more to share the burden. County Administrator Garrey Curry has proposed a 5% tax on both meals and lodging, figuring this would bring in $560,000. But, said Bonnie Jewell, assistant county administrator, the BOS “has chosen to give itself some flexibility by advertising the meals and lodging rates at 6% each.”
The supervisors can expect fierce pushback. Last year, a proposal to increase the meals and lodging taxes ignited strong opposition from local businesses, led by Kerry Sutten, president of the Sperryville Community Alliance and owner of the Before & After cafe and restaurant. Because other revenue sources proved more robust than initially projected, the proposed increase was watered down and later dropped.
More shifts and tradeoffs can be expected this year. “Hopefully, there will be other adjustments,” said Keir Whitson, supervisor for Hampton District. “I simply can’t support three pennies on the tax rate,” a reference to the proposal to raise the real estate tax rate by two cents per $100 of assessed value, along with a one cent increase on the fire levy.
