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Budgets are balancing

In Staunton, residents will pay higher personal property taxes, more fees for water and sewer services, and see the Montgomery Hall Park swimming pool closed for the season. In Spotsylvania County, business owners may pay 42% more in property taxes next year. Henry County officials scrambled to find money to pay a deputy. In Charlottesville and Albermarle County, bad weather cost money by leading to reduced sales tax revenues.

Everywhere in Virginia, discussions are underway -- how will we balance our budgets?

Local governments pinched by declining revenue, climbing expenses

School and county Boards of Directors are struggling to balance budgets amid declining tax revenues, cuts in state funding, and rising expenses. What they choose to do could affect homeowners for years to come.

Local governments in Virginia making tough decisions to balance budgets

Statewide, counties and cities are pulling out all the stops to find the funds needed to keep their schools and government services up and running. Some are cutting jobs and salaries, many are cutting back on programs, and others are looking for extra money in unusual places.

Read more in the local news outlets below:

York School Board passes $115 million budget Monday night (Daily Press)

Beach weighs options to save ailing golf courses (The Virginian-Pilot)

Roanoke tries to cut $10 million from city budget (The Roanoke Times)

Clearbrook fire and rescue station would welcome $93,600 (The Roanoke Times)

Pittsylvania County Supervisors talk finances (The Danville Register & Bee)

Campbell Co. School Board approves budget with school closure, job cuts (Lynchburg News & Advance)

County, school leaders get down to numbers in Bedford (The Lynchburg News & Advance)

Overtime debated, fees considered by Augusta supervisors (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Public hearing tomorrow on Goochland County budget issues (The Goochland Gazette)

County, schools get additional $1 million (Mechanicsville Local)

School board OKs budget with 12 staff cuts (Amherst New Era Progress)

Early retirements will aid Washington County school budget (Bristol Herald Courier)

County proposes position, capital project cuts (The Staunton News Leader)

Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 1:16pm

Budget woes continue as Virginia cities and counties decide how to spread the pain

Counties and cities across Virginia continue to struggle with budget issues of whether and where to cut funds in school budgets, city services, and employee benefits -- or whether it makes sense to raise taxes.

School budget decisions made across the state

Counties across the state are finalizing decisions about their school budgets. Read about local outcomes below:

Proposed Richmond budget has no service cuts (The Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Hampton identifies more revenues than originally thought, could reduce budget shortfall (The Daily Press)
Roanoke County school system avoids layoffs (The Roanoke Times)
Franklin County schools budget OK'd (The Roanoke Times)
Increased enrollment co uld lessen budget blows for Appomattox schools (The Lynchburg News & Advance)
City school board set to vote on budget Tuesday (The Lynchburg News & Advance)
School budget approved (The Free-Lance Star)
Spotsy schools to gain $1 mil (The Free-Lance Star)
Will lower taxes create school crisis? (The Charlottesville Daily Progress)
Wise school board considers five options for consolidation (The Kingsport Times-News)
Hatrick hopes for funding reconsideration (Leesburg Today)

Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 3:12pm

Orange County supervisors propose 6-cent property tax increase

Orange County supervisors have decided to advertise a 6-cent increase, although they may ultimately pass a lower rate. Supervisors don't yet know how much funding the county will get from the state, and they can pass a rate less than advertised, but not higher without running a new advertisement.

County Administrator Julie Jordan's proposed budget gives the school system the same local contribution as last year, but state funding cuts have led the schools to eliminate 81.5 jobs. The county may need to provide more money for the schools.

Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 10:01am

Fairfax school officials trim $80 million from budget request

Fairfax County school officials decreased their budget request to county supervisors by $80 million Tuesday, asking instead that county supervisors maintain the same level of support provided this year.

Under the school board's budget, most summer school programs will be cut, funding for supplies and textbook is set to drop by 15%, and employee salaries will be frozen. Supervisors will hold budget hearings next month, when they are expected to adopt the $2.3 billion budget.

Legislature approves two-year budget

The Virginia legislature yesterday approved a two-year, $70 billion budget. Read about the impact to local communities below.

Lawmakers approve 2-year, $70 billion budget (The Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Highlights of the new budget plan (The Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Assembly approves two-year, $70 billion Va. budget (The Associated Press)

General Assembly passes budget through 2012 (The Virginian-Pilot)

Va. assembly approves pared-back spending plan (Washington Examiner)

Budget deal reached (The Free-Lance Star)

Officials leery of hopeful state budget projections (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 7:02am

Virginia legislature unlikely to adjourn on time

The Virginia legislature will likely not adjourn tomorrow as scheduled. Members of the House and Senate continue to negotiate in an effort to find common ground on fee increases and proposed cuts to K-12 education.

School budgets a thorny issue throughout Virginia

Just about every school district in the Commonwealth is struggling with budget cuts -- a process of great interest to homeowners, whose taxes pay for programs. Maintaining quality education for district children while keeping taxes reasonable is even more challenging than usual because of cuts in state funding.