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Vol. 37, No. 3 | Richmond Suburban News | April 21, 2021
Supervisors OK FY2022 budget Peterson votes no over board’s failure to lower real estate tax rate By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER -- The Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved a $513 million FY2022 budget and five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) last Wednesday with one member of the panel casting the sole dissenting vote. Mechanicsville District Supervisor Canova Peterson made his position clear at last month’s meeting by stating he could not support the proposed budget without an amendment that would have lowered the current real estate tax rate. Peterson contended that maintain-
ing the current rate represents a tax increase for those who can least afford it in the form of higher assessments on their property. For the past several years, Hanover County PETERSON assessments have increased, resulting in higher tax bills for residents and more revenue in county coffers. As the board prepared to approve the proposed budget following a motion by Vice Chair Angela Kelly-Wiecek, Chickahominy District, Peterson reiterated those concerns. “As I pointed out then, I would still like to see this budget amended to reduce it by
County NAACP plans legal appeal of Wegman’s be held at the historic Brown Grove Baptist Church at 9328 Ashcake Rd. in Ashland. HANOVER – After letters Hanover County and appeals to the NAACP will host DEQ (Department a press conferof Environmental ence at 5 p.m. on Quality), the U.S. Friday, April 23, to Army Corps of announce a legal Engineers, and appeal of the recentthe State Water ly issued permit to Control Board over the past year, build a Wegman’s President Patricia Distribution Center in the Brown Grove HUNTER-JORDAN Hunter-Jordan, said the residents of the Community. The press conference will see NAACP, pg. 4
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$3.2 million without touching the increases in pay and benefits for our employees,” Peterson said. “I think we can do that even if it has to come out of reserve.” Equating no increase in real estate tax rates to no new taxes for residents is somewhat of a misnomer, according to Peterson. “This budget is based on an 81 cents tax rate, which is the same rate we had last year,” he said “The state has a law that when reassessments take place and it increases taxes beyond a certain reasonable amount, the tax rate has to roll back unless the board makes a decision to increase it.” That required rollback would amount to 78 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to Peterson. “Anything we do today to increase that and move it back up to 81 cents . . . is not see BUDGET, pg. 8
IB programs will stay at all 4 high schools By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND -- Hanover County School Board members had planned a continued discussion of a plan to consolidate the county’s four International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to one centralized location at Atlee High School at last Tuesday’s meeting, but, as it turned out, no additional comments were needed. They decided no action was needed, and the current plan will remain in place with the four programs continuing at all county high schools. In
addition, IB classes will continue to be available to non-IB candidates. Two months ago, school officials unveiled a plan that streamlined the baccalaureate program and eliminated the availability of those program academic classes to IB students only. Currently, AP and other advanced students can enroll in IB classes, and program enrollees expressed their desire to maintain the status quo regarding outside of program students. Chair John Axselle, Beaverdam District, said the see IB, pg. 13
PHHS brick sales benefit HEF Photo submitted by Addison Jones
Patrick Henry High School continues a fundraising effort for the Hanover Education Foundation by selling bricks that are placed in memory of deceased alumni and faculty. Forty bricks, costing $75 each, were dedicated 40 on Friday afternoon, with 85 family and friends attending. Chris Martinez, PHHS principal, is supporting another event in early November. The April event took place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, contact the Hanover Education Foundation at 804-365-4565.