Although the General Assembly likely won’t approve a statewide budget until June, Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors approved the county’s spending plan during their first regularly scheduled meeting in April.
County Administrator John Budesky said this year the county will prioritize improving residents' quality of life by investing in projects that will last for generations to come.
“We started this year looking much more long term,” said Budesky. “Historically we would plan for a five- or 10-year window in a couple areas. Now, we're planning for 25 years and beyond.”
Hanover's general fund revenue is expected to grow to $355 million the next fiscal year, up $33 million — or 10.3% compared to the previous budget. Other revenues from services, state and federal funds bring the total budget to approximately $679 million. Fiscal years in Virginia run from July 1 to June 30.
Nearly two-thirds of those funds are reserved for “continued investments in public facilities and substantial investments and general road infrastructure,” said Budesky. Public safety, school buildings, general infrastructure and tax relief are among the county’s priorities.
Making room for new school and public safety buildings.
Nearly half of Hanover’s projected expenditures will go toward public safety services and the school district as they make major investments in building new facilities.
The county’s five-year capital improvement plan includes investments for physical infrastructure such as schools, fire stations, roads, facilities, vehicles and equipment.
For Hanover fire-EMS and sheriff's offices, the county has set aside CIP funds for the completion of a combined administrative and training facility, scheduled to open in 2026.
This facility will provide the necessary additions for public safety staff to expand and address existing deficiencies in the county’s aging infrastructure.
“Hanover [has] been blessed to have a very strong volunteer fire and EMS system for many years, and many of those volunteers helped us build our fire and EMS stations,” according to Budesky. “But they weren't really designed for 24/7 operations and people living in them.”
Although Hanover’s made modifications to its public safety buildings over the years, this latest budget will invest in construction of three replacement fire stations and major improvements in existing facilities.
Additionally, the county plans to invest nearly $17 million in replacement ambulances and fire engines, explore improvements at the Sheriff’s Office firing range, $5 million for various park enhancements and another $8 million in other building renovations and maintenance.
Roadway improvements make up around $156 million of the five-year CIP, including around $32 million in 2024 alone.
Investing in schools, teachers and county employees
Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Gill and the School Board prepared a budget that invests in staff by providing increased salaries, additional positions and school buildings.
In accordance with the draft budgets presented by the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, Hanover’s school board plans to provide staff with a 7% compensation increase. Board members chose to forgo a controversial increase to their own appointed salaries as public criticism arose.
County supervisors also approved a 7% merit increase for its employees, as Hanover seeks to attract and retain qualified candidates from competitors in the Richmond region.
“In order to maintain market competitiveness, we made sure that we put in a merit for employees to keep the talent that we have here,” said Budesky. “I really think the employees serving Hanover are some of the very best and we want to make sure we retain that talent.
The budget reserves around $151 million for the replacement of three school facilities and the major renovation of another. Hanover celebrated the groundbreaking of the consolidated Henry Clay and John M. Gandy elementary last December.
Funding is planned for the replacement of Battlefield Park Elementary, renovations of Beaverdam Elementary in the upcoming year and replacement of Washington-Henry Elementary School in 2025.
The county aims to replace one of its three remaining campus-style elementary schools in 2028.
Maintaining tax rates and expanding tax relief
Hanover’s growth in revenue is fueled primarily by general property tax revenue and increased to property values as housing reassessments rose an average of 11.6%. The average assessment was around $387,600, according to the County Assessor's Office.
“We didn't increase taxes on our citizens to pay for things and what that did was it actually deferred some of our investments over a period of time,” said Budesky. “While we've deferred some investments in the past…. we’re now in a position to make those investments to get that work done.”
While the county looks to maintain its 81-cent-per-$100-of-assessed-value real estate tax rate, residents have raised concerns about the skewed property values on homes and potential tax burdens.
Ashland District Supervisor Faye Prichard reflected on the real-life implications of this burden as she discussed her elderly mother living on a limited income.
“Every single thing we do for our citizens costs money,” Prichard told the board on April 13. “Every one of us has to decide what we can afford to spend,” Prichard said. “I’ve never heard a lot of, ‘Give me less.’ The reality is we have a lot of things we need to do.”
The board sought to lessen the impact on its taxpayers by providing a 2-cent tax abatement and enhancing its elderly and disabled tax relief program. The abatement will return around $4 million to property owners and apply to the next bill on June 5 for all taxpaying property owners.
County staff also reported that the program could be further enhanced by increasing the income level cap to $70,000 and the maximum net worth allotment to $400,000.
This proposal will be considered by the county supervisors and the board’s Finance Committee on April 26, which can be viewed on the county’s website.
Although General Assembly likely won’t approve a statewide budget until June, Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors approved the county’s spending plan during their first regularly scheduled meeting in April.
County Administrator John Budesky said this year the county will prioritize improving residents' quality of life by investing in projects that will last for generations to come.
“We started this year looking much more long term,” said Budesky. “Historically we would plan for a five- or 10-year window in a couple areas. Now, we're planning for 25 years and beyond.”
Hanover's general fund revenue is expected to grow to $355 million the next fiscal year, up $33 million — or 10.3% compared to the previous budget. Other revenues from services, state and federal funds bring the total budget to approximately $679 million. Fiscal years in Virginia run from July 1 to June 30.
Nearly two-thirds of those funds are reserved for “continued investments in public facilities and substantial investments and general road infrastructure,” said Budesky. Public safety, school buildings, general infrastructure and tax relief are among the county’s priorities.
Making room for new school and public safety buildings.
Nearly half of Hanover’s projected expenditures will go toward public safety services and the school district as they make major investments in building new facilities.
The county’s five-year capital improvement plan includes investments for physical infrastructure such as schools, fire stations, roads, facilities, vehicles and equipment.
For Hanover fire-EMS and sheriff's offices, the county has set aside CIP funds for the completion of a combined administrative and training facility, scheduled to open in 2026.
This facility will provide the necessary additions for public safety staff to expand and address existing deficiencies in the county’s aging infrastructure.
“Hanover [has] been blessed to have a very strong volunteer fire and EMS system for many years, and many of those volunteers helped us build our fire and EMS stations,” according to Budesky. “But they weren't really designed for 24/7 operations and people living in them.”
Although Hanover’s made modifications to its public safety buildings over the years, this latest budget will invest in construction of three replacement fire stations and major improvements in existing facilities.
Additionally, the county plans to invest nearly $17 million in replacement ambulances and fire engines, explore improvements at the Sheriff’s Office firing range, $5 million for various park enhancements and another $8 million in other building renovations and maintenance.
Roadway improvements make up around $156 million of the five-year CIP, including around $32 million in 2024 alone.
Investing in schools, teachers and county employees
Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Gill and the School Board prepared a budget that invests in staff by providing increased salaries, additional positions and school buildings.
In accordance with the draft budgets presented by the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, Hanover’s school board plans to provide staff with a 7% compensation increase. Board members chose to forgo a controversial increase to their own appointed salaries as public criticism arose.
County supervisors also approved a 7% merit increase for its employees, as Hanover seeks to attract and retain qualified candidates from competitors in the Richmond region.
“In order to maintain market competitiveness, we made sure that we put in a merit for employees to keep the talent that we have here,” said Budesky. “I really think the employees serving Hanover are some of the very best and we want to make sure we retain that talent.
The budget reserves around $151 million for the replacement of three school facilities and the major renovation of another. Hanover celebrated the groundbreaking of the consolidated Henry Clay and John M. Gandy elementary last December.
Funding is planned for the replacement of Battlefield Park Elementary, renovations of Beaverdam Elementary in the upcoming year and replacement of Washington-Henry Elementary School in 2025.
The county aims to replace one of its three remaining campus-style elementary schools in 2028.
Maintaining tax rates and expanding tax relief
Hanover’s growth in revenue is fueled primarily by general property tax revenue and increased to property values as housing reassessments rose an average of 11.6%. The average assessment was around $387,600, according to the County Assessor's Office.
“We didn't increase taxes on our citizens to pay for things and what that did was it actually deferred some of our investments over a period of time,” said Budesky. “While we've deferred some investments in the past…. we’re now in a position to make those investments to get that work done.”
While the county looks to maintain its 81-cent-per-$100-of-assessed-value real estate tax rate, residents have raised concerns about the skewed property values on homes and potential tax burdens.
Ashland District Supervisor Faye Prichard reflected on the real-life implications of this burden as she discussed her elderly mother living on a limited income.
“Every single thing we do for our citizens costs money,” Prichard told the board on April 13. “Every one of us has to decide what we can afford to spend,” Prichard said. “I’ve never heard a lot of, ‘Give me less.’ The reality is we have a lot of things we need to do.”
The board sought to lessen the impact on its taxpayers by providing a 2-cent tax abatement and enhancing its elderly and disabled tax relief program. The abatement will return around $4 million to property owners and apply to the next bill on June 5 for all taxpaying property owners.
County staff also reported that the program could be further enhanced by increasing the income level cap to $70,000 and the maximum net worth allotment to $400,000.
This proposal will be considered by the county supervisors and the board’s Finance Committee on April 26, which can be viewed on the county’s website.
