CORRECTION — We wrote billion instead million in the initial report. We apologize for the typo.
James City County Administrator Scott Stevens is proposing a $413.1 million budget that cuts the real estate tax rate by 3 cents and increases the meals tax by 50%.
The budget, which begins July 1, represents an increase of 5.9% from this year’s budget in overall spending, including capital budget.
His proposal to lower the real estate tax rate to 80 cents will still cost homeowners more in real estate taxes — about $8 million — because home assessments increased an average of 11.84%.
Meals taxes would increase to 6% in the proposed budget, part of what Stevens said was a move to diversify the county’s revenue base. The county also has a new revenue stream from its school speed zone cameras and would raise ambulance transport charges in line with Medicare reimbursement rat…