The Mechanicsville Local – 02/23/2022

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Vol. 37, No. 45 | Richmond Suburban News | February 23, 2022

FY2023 budget proposal rewards employees, funds three new schools

NAACP celebrates Black History Month

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

T

he Hanover County Administrator’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2023 and included five-year plan proposes significant projects for the county, including the construction of three new elementary schools and improved employee compensations to keep up with increasing job market competitiveness. In addition, the budget recommends no changes to the current real estate tax rate of $0.81 per $100 of assessed value. County administrator John Budesky presented the proposed FY2023 budget during last week’s board of supervisors special budget meeting. Through feedback from residents and other stakeholders, coupled with extensive analysis and budget planning from other county departments and agencies, the county developed a five-year planning horizon in order to meet longterm goals beyond fiscal year (FY)2023. Budesky began his presentation by offering historical context to how Hanover County has effectively budgeted in the past. According to Budesky, the county has maintained an unchanged tax rate over the past 15 years throughout several significant changes to the economy, including the 2008 recession and COVID-19 pandemic. “That has allowed us to really weather some of these storms, but we did make some very difficult decisions,” Budesky said. “We did not give merits in certain times; we did not invest in our infrastructure. And at some point, some of that comes to bear that we have to make future investments.”

2018 File photo/The Local

Leon Brooks is pictured front left with his brothers, who have all served in the military. Brooks was recently spotlighted by the Hanover NAACP for his part in eliminating a VA ANG policy and practice that allowed the Confederate flag to be used on fighter jets and uniform emblems. Story on page 5. Christina Amano Dolan/The Local

County administrator John Budesky presents his team’s proposed FY2023 budget before the board of supervisors last week during a special budget meeting.

Budesky noted how Hanover is a fiscally strong locality, with current trends revealing that county revenues are trending higher in various sources, specifically real estate, personal property and sales taxes. The five-year plan predicts that this unusually high revenue growth is an anomaly and will temper in the following years. With this recent growth, the proposed FY2023 budget attempts to utilize the revenue generated in order to tackle chalsee FY2023, pg. 7

Chickahominy Pipeline announces ‘pause’ to project By Christina Amano Dolan Editor Chickahominy Pipeline LLC announced a “pause” to its natural gas pipeline project last week after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld

a PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM) decision to remove Chickahominy Power from its interconnection queue. PJM is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of elecsee PIPELINE, pg. 4

MAR 18 - APR 17 HANOVER TAVERN Don't miss this charming love story

VIRGINIAREP.ORG 804-282-2620


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