BOS unanimous in favor of FY21 budget, taxes unchanged

Taxes will not increase, but revenue is still in flux

In a succession of ve-to-one votes, the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors Monday night approved resolutions to adopt the scal year 2021 county budget, tax rates — unchanged from the current scal year — and appropriations.

Appropriations total $37,870,775. Within that amount, stated the resolution, “the appropriation to the School Fund in the amount of $12,945,226 is subject to and contingent upon the availability of funding from the federal government in the amount of $727,656, from the state government in the amount of $3,126,809, and from other local revenues in the amount of $476,320.”

The board approved the following tax rates:

Levies for the tax year 2020 are set at: $0.67 per $100 of assessed value of real estate; and $4.25 per $100 of assessed value of tangible personal property, that same rate as scal year 2020.

An additional levy within the county-wide Fire and Rescue District of: $0.06 per $100 of assessed value of real estate; and $0.20 per $100 of assessed value of tangible personal property.

This follows several weeks of discussions and deliberations on forecasted revenue cuts and accompanying expenditure cuts in light of business shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

In the budget review on Monday May 4, County Administrator Garrey Curry outlined revenue reductions and “frozen” expenditures in light of an expected drop in sales tax and meals and lodging tax in the rst two quarters of FY21 that begins July 1 of this year.

The anticipated drops are due to the closures of businesses from the COVID-19 emergency orders for state residents to stay home and practice social distancing. Governor Ralph Northam also placed some of the state’s revenue contribution in an “unallotted” category — not to be distributed until state revenues allow.

The budget impact from forecasted revenue reduction and frozen expenditures since Curry’s original proposed budget totals $1,128,879.

The board also discussed at the May 11 meeting the current status of COVID cases and restrictions in the county. The Virginia Health Department has reported a total of ten cases of the virus in Rappahannock County, whereas there was only 1 positive test two weeks ago.

Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday will set into motion Phase 1 of reducing pandemic restrictions across the state, although he is leaving it up to local governments — including much of northern Virginia — to determine the timing of business openings.

Meanwhile, Board of Supervisors Chair Christine Smith emphasized on a phone call Tuesday to the Rappahannock News this week that Shenandoah National park “is not reopening this weekend.”

She said the park’s Acting Superintendent Kevin Soviak would be joining the Board of Supervisors on its Wednesday, May 13 teleconference to discuss Shenandoah’s eventual opening.

“[Soviak] will have some developing information on [reopening] and be looking for consensus and support from the board,” Smith said.

Asked if she would advise keeping the Rappahannock trailheads to the park closed, she said: “I do think it makes sense to keep local trailheads closed and work in the phased reopening that the [National] Park Service has been talking about all along.”

The May 13 meeting had originally been scheduled as a budget work session. But the board having approved the budget on Monday, the Wednesday meeting was to focus more on COVID-19 issues.

“We’re still holding our meeting [Wednesday] night and it will consist more of the COVID-19 update than anything else,” Smith said.

Board of Supervisors Chair Christine Smith emphasized that Shenandoah National park “is not reopening this weekend.” The park’s acting superintendent was scheduled to address the board Wednesday night. To watch, go to rappnews. com/video