Grab Your Wallets, It's Budget Season!

Happy Valentine's Day! What will it cost you to fund local government agencies' wish lists for next fiscal year? Plus, state headlines, local high school heroes and Presidents Day closings.

Feb 14, 2025

Proposed rate structure from James City County Service Authority

From water and sewer charges to schools, area agencies are looking for significant increases from taxpayers to fund their wish list for the fiscal year that starts in June.

The general manager of the James City County Service Authority is proposing a four-year program of rate increases that would increase the average family’s bill by 31.5% between now and 2029.

Williamsburg-James City County Schools are putting together a budget that would seek an additional 12.9% increase in funding from the county and Williamsburg.

And unless supervisors take action, James City County’s real estate tax rate will go up 5 cents per $100 in value when the one-time tax credit to cover double-digit increases in property values expires.

York County schools are also looking at a gap of $3.1 million in the money they say they need to hire more teachers, give employees an average pay raise of 4% and cover increased health insurance costs. (see story below)

To put the increases in perspective from the viewpoint of the private citizens who pay for them, the average wage increases among private sector employees this year is projected to be less than 3.5%, the Society for Human Resource Management reported.

Social security cost of living adjustments this year are 2.5%.

And the 2024 inflation rate was 2.4%.

M. Douglas Powell, the general manager of the James City Service Authority, told the supervisors Tuesday that increases in water and sewer rates were needed because water usage is down and interest rates to pay for capital improvements have nearly doubled. But even if the increases are approve, the county will still have the lowest water and sewer rates in the area, he added.

Supervisors, meeting in their role as the authority’s board of directors, approved setting a public hearing on the new rates April 8.

Powell said spreading increases out over four years would minimize immediate sticker shock. He said the average home using 5,000 gallons a month would see combined water and sewer rates increase by $4.26 to $54.90 a month, increasing each year until it reached $66.60 a month in 2029.

In the regular session that preceded the JCSA meeting, officers of the local teachers’ union urged supervisors to fund the additional contribution the school system will need to fund pay raises, add staff and pay increased health insurance bills.

“Do you want the best schools?” asked Marco Sardi, a middle school teacher who is president of the Williamsburg/James City Education Association.

He and the union treasurer noted a compensation study performed for the schools last year showed local teachers were earning below the midrange of what teachers in the area make.

“I know that this year will be a huge ask from the school board,” Sardi said, but he said retaining good teachers was critical to having quality schools.

“If we want to be a county that appeals only to one type of resident, who doesn’t have students in the school system, that is your prerogative,” Sardi said.

In other business Tuesday, the supervisors approved a special use permit to allow Charlottesville-based Hexagon Energy to build a three-megawatt solar panel farm at 101 and 121 Ivy Hill Road.

The solar farm will be built on 47 acres and will have a 40-year operational lifespan, after which it would be decommissioned.

Supervisors approved the proposal by a vote of 3-2, with Michael J. Hipple and Barbara E. Null voting against it.

“It doesn’t make sense to me,” Hipple said, for the county to spend taxpayer money to plant 10,000 trees in parts of the county while allowing trees to be cleared elsewhere for solar farms.

York Schools Face Gap in Their Wish List Budget

Editor’s note: York County schools did not make the school’s finance chief available to review numbers with us to ensure accuracy.

York County told its schools they will add $500,000 to the $76 million it gives the school system next year. But Superintendent Victor D. Shandor is estimating he will need at least six times more.

Shandor reviewed preliminary budget estimates with the school board Monday.

Without a final word on how much the state will contribute, he said, it is impossible to predict how much of a local contribution schools will need.

The superintendent presented a list of “must haves” that includes adding 20 teachers. He also expects health insurance costs to grow by $1.1 million, and wants to give employees an average pay raise of 4 percent. The cost for all this would be an extra $5 million.

He said the total budget for the school division would increase 4.4% over the current budget to $201.752 million. The school is estimating its 13,000-student population will increase by another 400 pupils.

The school budget is paid with a combination of state, federal and local funds.

Shandor said the county administrator told him he should expect a $500,000 increase over the $76 million York contributed last year.

That leaves the schools with a $3.179 million budget gap, he said.

“I do want to stress we’re months out and months away from a final budget, specifically at the state level,” the superintendent added.

The General Assembly’s proposed education budgets would spend more than what Gov. Glenn Youngkin is planning, he said.

The York school board will hold public hearings on the budget Feb. 24, with a goal of adopting a proposed budget to take to the county by May.

Headlines Around the Commonwealth

Norfolk-based USS Truman collides with freighter.

Virginia Beach voting system emains in limbo after Senate rejection.

Lynchburg city county, school board meet in wake of resignation votes.

High Schoolers Honored For Saving Children From Icy Pond

Colin Fitzegerald (front, 2d from left) Alexa Hiu (3d ) & Ana Hiu (4th from left)

Three high school students received a lifesaving recognition Monday for rescuing two 10-year-old boys who fell into an icy pond last month.

Colin Fitzgerald, Ana Hiu and her sister Alexa were recognized by the James City County supervisors at their meeting Tuesday.

They rescued two 10-year-old boys who had wandered 30 feet from shore at the pond in Greensprings West Jan. 25 and fell through the ice into freezing water estimated at being 15-20 feet deep.

The three called to their parents to notify 911, then jumped into the pond to help the two boys.

Their parents and neighbors fashioned a makeshift rope out of extension cords and pulled all five to safety before emergency services arrived, said Supervisor Ruth Larson, who presented the award.

“The quick thinking, resourcefulness and teamwork demonstrated during this rescue not only averted a potential tragedy but also underscored the spirit of community and heroism” of all involved, Larson said.

Alexa and Ana are seniors at Jamestown High School and Colin is a senior at Warhill. The two sisters are lifeguards, and Colin is on the swim team, Larson said.

us a flag on pole — Photo by Charles "Duck" Unitas on Unsplash

Presidents Day Closings

James City County

County Offices: Closed.

James City County Recreation Center and Abram Frink Jr. Community Center: Open.

Parks: All County parks are open year-round.

Park Stores and Guest Services Offices: Closed.

Jolly Pond and Toano Convenience Centers: Open.

Tewning Road Convenience Center: Closed on Mondays.

Garbage Transfer Station: Open.

Curbside Recycling: No change.

Libraries: Closed.