James City County supervisors approve $390M budget, paving the way for a new government center and library

JAMES CITY COUNTY – After months of discussions, the James City County Board of Supervisors approved a $390.5 million budget that will increase residents’ tax bills and allow the county to move forward with a proposed new government center and an additional library.

Although the budget keeps in place the county’s existing real estate property tax rate of 83 cents per $100 of assessed value, it does not renew a 5-cent tax credit that was implemented last year.

The previous credit was designed to offset the cost of real estate property tax bills after the most recent reassessment led to a significant jump in residential home values for many residents.

The approval of the budget means residents will see the cost of their taxes increase by 5 cents per $100 of assessed value compared to the last budget cycle.

Personal property taxes, set at $4 per $100 valuation, will not change.

The new budget will go into effect on July 1.

Board Chair Jim Icenhour proposed a two-cent real estate tax credit. Supervisor Barbara Null said she would support the idea.

“I’m okay with the two cents. It’s something,” Null said.

However, none of the other supervisors agreed to the proposed credit.

“I don’t want to see us lose ground that we’re on right now,” said Supervisor Michael Hipple. “We are very conscious of the money because we know it comes from the citizens, and we’re entrusted to do the best we can.”

Supervisor Ruth Larson said the credit would not make sense in light of an unexpectedly high funding request by the Williamsburg-James City County school system this year.

“I would rather us work towards something next year when we see where the assessments are,” Larson said. “We have not fully funded the school ask, and then to do a two-cent credit, I just have a real issue with that.”

Twenty speakers attended the meeting to push back against the proposed budget, with many accusing the county of overspending.

Laurie Tedesco said she receives disability pay from the U.S. Airforce, along with social security, but can hardly afford to continue living in the county.

“I was from California where they keep doing the same darn things that y’all want to do, where they just keep raising, raising, raising those taxes,” Tedesco said. “”You’re going to drive all of us out of here.”

Lucy Espaillat said she works as a broker in the Medicare industry and is concerned about the stress seniors in the county are facing from rising taxes.

Espaillat said many clients she sees are having to forgo needed medical treatments because they can no longer afford their copays. She worries the coming tax increases will only make the situation worse.

“Many of the people I sit down with complain about how expensive everything is. They tell me that they’re having a hard time meeting their monthly finances,” Espaillat said. “For some people, their only means of income is their social security check. Social security checks are not very high for a lot of our seniors, so they find themselves not being able to meet all of their monthly debt.”

Stephen Mains said people living in the county, especially senior citizens and ALICE familes (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) should be able to stay in their homes.

“You’ve lost touch with those who can’t afford to buy homes here and those like me, whose first home was bought in this very county, not some overpriced northeastern city,” Mains said. “Stop pushing the burden onto those who can least afford it.”

Several citizens also spoke out against a proposed $230 million government center, which will include an addition for a new $16.8 million library. The building will be located on Longhill Road near the county’s recreation center.

Throughout the budget process, residents have asked the county to allow residents to vote on the facility via a referendum.

None of the supervisors expressed support for bringing the government center to a vote. Supervisor John McGlennon said the building has been a topic of discussion at public meetings for years.

County Administrator Scott Stevens said the board’s decision to move forward with the building is based in part on the results of a 2022 building consolidation analysis. That study analyzed the costs of renovating older buildings and found that the expense “would be very similar” to the cost of building a new, consolidated government complex, he said.

“We want it not to be a gold-plated structure but something the community can be proud of,” Stevens said. “I do think we’re still wisely spending the community’s money.”

Hipple questioned whether the speakers’ feedback was representative of community sentiment.

“Out of 80 plus thousand people, we had 21 people here tonight,” Hipple said.

He also expressed frustration with accusations that the board was not taking residents’ concerns into account and did not have the expertise needed to effectively manage a budget.

“Of course we’re listening. I wouldn’t be doing this job if I wasn’t listening,” Hipple added. “I’ve run a business for 37 years, thank you very much. I know what the heck I’m doing.”