James City County should hold a referendum on its planned $189.5 million government center, local residents asked in a public hearing on the budget.
A majority of the speakers at a public hearing Tuesday on the county’s proposed $389.5 million budget protested the additional costs it includes for real estate taxes, water and sewage charges. The new budget goes into effect in July.
Speakers focused much of their wrath on the $189.5 million government center, whose projected cost has ballooned to nearly double what consultants estimated when they recommended it in 2022. At the time consultants said building a consolidated facility would over time be cheaper than expanding and renovating the county’s existing offices.
The county plans to borrow money in three separate debt issues over three years, and it will cost taxpayers $15 million a year in debt service, according to the county finance staff.
“Put this to a referendum an…