Few protest York County budget, Virginians narrowly vote "yes" on redistricting
It's April 21. York holds public hearing on $314.7 million budget...Olde Towne Medical signs partnership to increase behavioral health support...Plus your best bets for weekend fun.
Only a handful of taxpayers showed up Tuesday night at public hearings on York County’s proposed $314.7 million budget, along with proposed tax increases and sewer and garbage rate hikes.
Most of the few who spoke asked the supervisors to lower the property tax rate to offset the impact of an 11.2% increase in assessed home values, and one protested the county’s plan to increase the meals tax by half, from 4 to 6%.
But the supervisors did not entertain the idea of any rate cuts, saying they had squeezed the budget as tight as they could, and that increases largely went to pay an extra $9.4 million for employee pay raises, as well as increased contributions to local schools and higher health insurance costs.
York’s initial proposed budget was for $308 million, a 7% increase from the current budget. But after several work sessions the staff is proposing to increase the budget to $314.8 million. The largest increase, $6 million, would allow preliminary work to begin on the aging courthouse and office complex.
The county also increased its general fund spending by $467,000 because it expects to get more money from admissions taxes and business taxes. The county plans to spend nearly $200,000 for an office of an ombudsman to help business cut through red tape at the county.
The budget, which would take effect July 1, holds the real estate tax at 78 cents per $100 in assessed value and keeps property taxes flat at $4 per $100. But homeowners would pay an average of 9.4% more in taxes because of double-digit increases in home values during the last assessment.
Meals taxes would increase to 6 %, sewer rates would go up by 5.5% for the average single family home, and garbage and recycling rates would go up by anywhere from 3% to 14%, depending on the type of service being used.
“Expenses continue to go up, and we have to have a balanced budget,” said District 2 Supervisor Sheila S. Noll. She said county staff had been busy “massaging every single number in the (budget).”
District 3 Supervisor Wayne Drewry said the meals tax hike would still be lower than what York residents pay when they go to eat in adjacent localities, and he suggested residents should bring that money home to York.
“We pored through this budget and we looked at every single thing that we could cut.” Drewry said. “I’m not going to cut police...(or) schools....because we live in the best county in Virginia. “
Supervisors are scheduled to vote to approve the budget May 5.
Get free tickets for evening with school superintendent
Our second Town Hall will give readers a chance to participate in a town hall with Williamsburg-James City County School Superintendent Daniel Keever. This will be an intimate event limited to 18 guests who will have an hour to interact with our superintendent and ask questions on any educational topic you choose. The event takes place April 29 from 7-8 p.m. at the Williamsburg Regional Library downtown. To claim your fee ticket, click this link.
Voters approve referendum to redraw Virginia’s congressional map
Proponents of a new congressional map won the day in Tuesday’s special referendum, with 51.44% of voters saying Yes, according to the final count by Virginia Department of Elections.
In our area, Williamsburg and James City County voters voted in favor of the winning “yes” vote to allow the Democratic legislature to create a new map that gives the party a majority of congressional seats.
York County voters went to the ‘no’ column, according to election department figures.
Virginia’s Supreme Court must still rule on legal challenges to the redistricting change.
Turnout was steady all day at local polling stations. In James City County, 56% of registered voters had cast their ballots as of 6 p.m.
Twice as many voters – 24,400 -- cast ballots during the early voting period that ended Saturday, while 12,804 voted on election day as of 6 p.m., according to figures from Dianna S. Moorman, the county’s director of elections and general registrar.
Olde Towne Medical signs mental health support partnership
Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center has formed a partnership with the Care Alliance Collective to provide behavioral health support services for its patients.
The 33-year-old medical center provides health and dental services to some 5,000 patients in the area who have no insurance or are on Medicaid.
Patients without insurance are charged on a sliding scale based on their ability to pay. The center provides a full range of primary care, including obstetrics, as well as dental care.
The new agreement allows Olde Towne patients who have behavioral health issues to connect with groups that offer the non-clinical services they usually need, like food, transportation and follow-up calls.
“These basic needs can interfere with and defeat the purposes of clinical care,” a spokeswoman for Olde Towne said, adding such issues “take time away from clinical care yet are critical to getting a patient to follow through with their physical and behavioral health care.”
Aaron Thompson, CEO & Executive Director of Olde Towne, said the partnership will give patients needed help with behavioral health problems. He provided several statistics showing the need is substantial:
According to the Virginia Department of Health, nearly 20% of Virginia adults report experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has designated parts of the greater Williamsburg region as areas that have a shortage of health professionals.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that more than 50% of adults with a mental health condition in the U.S. do not receive the help they need.
Top 6 bets for your weekend
Revel at the River Music Festival, April 25 & 26. Chickahominy Riverfront Park. $30 for two-day pass. Starts at noon.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the Broadway version.. April 24-26. Kimball Theater. 7 p.m. $17.85-$25.31.
Williamsburg Craft Beer Festival. April 25. 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Jamestown Beach Event Park. Price varies.
Historic Garden Week through April 25. $60.
Yorktown Market Days Pirate Invasion Market. April 25-26. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free.
60th Annual Art on the Square. April 26. Downtown Williamsburg.10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free.