Heads up -- your chance to weigh in on government spending this week
Good morning! Let your friends who get their news from Tik-Tok know they can give James City County and Williamsburg input on how to spend their next budgets.
The James City County board of supervisors will hold a pre-budget public hearing Tuesday for the express purpose of getting taxpayers’ comments and suggestions before staff begin preparing the budget for the next fiscal year.
Consider this fair warning for all the voters who complain after the fact that they were not aware of what the county was doing!
The hearing would be a good time to share your thoughts on what the county should do about the tax rate, given that it expects real estate assessments to go up by double digits this year. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the county government center.
In Williamsburg, the planning commission is inviting citizen comments on what should be included in next year’s capital improvement plan. That hearing takes place during the planning commission’s regular meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Stryker Center.
Government financial budget years begin July 1.
Other government meetings this week:
James City County
Board of supervisors
Organizational meeting Jan. 13, 4 p.m., at government center board room, 101 Mounts Bay Rd. They will elect a chair and vice chair for the coming year. Supervisors will also meet as the board of directors of the James City County Service Authority to choose officers.
Chesapeake Bay Board. Jan. 14, 5 p.m., 101 Mounts Bay Rd. government center board room.
Wetlands Board, Jan. 14, 5 p.m., 101 Mounts Bay Rd. government center board room.
City of Williamsburg:
City Council
Special city council meeting Monday, Jan. 12, to consider an appeal of the Architectural Review Board’s denial of approval to build two single-family detached rooms at 206 and 317 Indian Springs Rd. 9 a.m., Stryker Center.
Architectural Review Board
Regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m., Stryker Center.
Williamsburg-James City County School Board.
Budget workshop focusing on compensation plan. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 5 :30 p.m. Room 300, School Board office annex, 117 Ironbound Road.
York County School Board
Organizational Meeting, Monday, Jan. 12. 6 p.m. York Hall East Room.
York County Planning Commission
Regular Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. York Hall.
Details on York County’s real estate assessment increases
York County’s real estate assessments will increase from 7.66% to 11.85% depending on the district, County Chair Douglas R. Holroyd reported.
Holroyd announced in his newsletter the largest percentage change will occur in the Nelson magisterial district, where the average real estate assessment will increase 11.85%
The lowest increase will be in the Bruton District, up 7.66%
The other assessment increases announced by Holroyd in his constituent newsletter are:
Grafton, up 10.72%
Bethel, up 10.75%
Assessments are conducted every two years, taking into account sale prices, updated photographs and previously issued building permits, Holroyd said.
Seats up in James City County planning commission
Planning commissions are the most influential groups most citizens never hear about. This week, nearly half the seats on the James City County planning commission will be decided at the board of supervisors’ organizational meeting Tuesday.
The terms of at-large Chair Jack Haldeman, Jamestown representative Frank Polster and Powhatan representative Michael “Scott” Maye all expire at the end of January. Maye has already vacated his seat.
The seven-member commission advises the county supervisors on priorities for development, which can impact everything from housing prices to road congestion. The commission prepares the county’s comprehensive plan every five years. This plan outlines policy for growth, economic development, public facilities, transportation, housing and land use.
County supervisors will meet behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss filling the vacant seats, which are appointed for four year terms.
Haldeman and Polster told us they have applied to be re-appointed.
Upcoming series you want to plan for:
1. Great Decisions Series returns
The Great Decisions series returns Feb. 3, with Retired U.S. Army Col. Larry Wilkerson on deck for the final lecture in the series to discuss Ukraine and the future of European security.
Wilkerson, former chief of staff to late Secretary of State Colin Powell, will cap the series om March 24.
The Great Decisions series, sponsored by the Williamsburg League of Women Voters and the Foreign Policy Association, features eight weekly lectures on foreign policy topics at 10:30 every morning from Feb. 3 through March 24.
The series takes place this year at the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalist Church and remotely on Zoom. Cost is $75 for an individual, and $100 for a household.
Wilkerson is a distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and National Policy at William & Mary and has taught national security affairs in the honors program at George Washington University. He is currently a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network.
He served 31 years in the U.S. Army, including a combat tour in Vietnam as a OH-6A helicopter pilot.
Wilkerson served on the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College and as Special Assistant to Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He closed out his Army career as Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College.
Upon retiring from active duty, Wilkerson began work as an advisor to Powell. He later served as Associate Director of the U.S. State Department’s Policy Planning staff under Ambassador Richard N. Haass and was a staff member of a State Department team responsible for East Asia and the Pacific, political-military and legislative affairs before being selected by Powell as his Chief of Staff at the State Department.
2. JCC Citizens Police Academy
James City County residents can also register to participate in the 56th Citizens Police Academy to learn more about how police do their work, starting next month.
The 12-week academy covers various aspects of police work and is limited to 20 participants, who must be at least 18 years old.
Classes are held every Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., from Feb. 11 to April 29.
Applications should be completed online no later than Jan. 30.
Passings
Robert “Bob” Harold Ross, 80, Jan. 3.
James Lawrence Bradley Jr., 80, Jan. 8.