Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely “jostled the apple cart,” so to speak, in many ways throughout the country.
During last Thursday’s County Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session, a public meeting was held to discuss the possibility of raising taxes.
One citizen requested for no tax increase. The Board also received three e-mails requesting “no Real Estate tax increase.”
Comments by the Supervisors were centered around concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardships it has caused the citizens of Craig County.
Following the public hearing, the BOS voted to maintain all existing tax rates with Option 1 for Real Estate. Visit craigcountyva.gov for more information.
Said Craig County Administrator R.R. Dan Collins, “Rather than expand the financial burdens of our citizens with a tax increase, the use of fund balance was chosen. This should aid in the economic recovery of the county and its citizens.”
The approved tax rates along with the budget presentation information (which has been on the website most of April), can be found at https://craigcountyva.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/FY-2020-21-Budget-Budget-Presentation-FOR-WEB-SITE-April-16.-2020.pdf.
The options for a balance budget were also reviewed by the BOS and other information was shared which included the public hearing for FY2021 Budget. Some information is as follows.
- The General County Fund – Revenues: Local State and Federal Funds for Local Purposes $6,993,910, State – School $4,612,666, Federal – School $687,647, Local Contribution to School – $1,820,000 and School Generated Revenue – $186,676 which totaled $14,300,899
- The General County Fund – Expenditures: General County Fund – $6,993,910, Component Unit-School Board – $7,306,989 which totaled – $14,300,899
- Total Revenues for FY2020-21 – $14,300,899
- Total Expenditures for FY 202021 -$14,300,899
- Summary of FY2021 Budget ▪ FY21 Capital Improvements (CIP) $224,587 ▪ two percent Employee Bonus Dec.1, 2020 $32,380 ▪ County Funds $12,640 ▪ Comp Board Funds $19,740 ▪ No VRS Retirement & Life Insurance ▪ Contingent on Meeting State Revenues ·Increased Funding for Volunteer Fire Departments ▪ Annual Funding Increased $2,500 · County Match Equipment Grant ($50,000)
- Proposed FY 2021 Capital Improvements ▪ Storage Building $138,370 ▪ Sheriff Vehicle $21,200 ▪ Registrar Security Software $12,738 ▪ Social Service Vehicle (State Funds) $20,000 ▪ CC-EMS Grant Match (Ambulance) $50,000 ▪ School Bus ($81,925) Loan Payment $18,549 ▪ Truck, Mower, Parking Lot Seal $58,000
The Summary General Fund Revenues Budget estimates and General Property tax rates the past ten years are on the website too.
On average, Craig County collects 0.50 percent of a property’s assessed Fair Market Value as property tax has the lowest percentage of Fair Market Value when compared to surrounding counties.
- Tax Rate Comparison With Surrounding Counties ▪ Tax Rates 2016 ▪ Craig Below Average RE Rate by three cents ▪ Tax Rates 2019 ▪ Craig Below Average RE Rate by two cents ▪ 75 percent of Localities Increase RE Tax ▪ Rates 2020 ▪ Craig Below Average RE Rate by 3 cents ▪ 50 percent of Localities Increase RE Tax
Tax Rate Comparisons with local counties were made from 2016 and 2019 (on website).
- Rate Comparisons are:
- Highland County $0.48 $0.04 Low $0.00 $0.35
- Bath County Bath County $0.50 $0.00 $0.04 $2.02
- Giles County Craig County $0.59 $0.00 $0.00 $2.29
- Bland County Bland County $0.60 $0.00 $0.00 $2.71
- Botetourt County Floyd County $0.60 $0.00 $0.25 $2.75
- Highland County Giles County $0.67 $0.04 $0.00 $2.95
- Floyd County Alleghany County $0.71 $0.00 $0.00 $2.98
- Alleghany County Botetourt County $0.79 $0.00 < High > $0.00 $3.50
- Craig County * Average Rates $0.62 $0.01 $0.04 $2.44
- License Fee Included Rate Difference ($0.03) Below Average $1.06 Above Average Four of the eight counties increased tax rates in 2019
For the county, additional information:
- Summary of FY2021 Budget ▪ Change in Tax Payment -Typical Home ▪ 2 cent Increase In Real Estate Tax Rate (Option3) ▪ Home Value: $120,000 ▪ Increase in Taxes /Year: $24.00
All of the information can be obtained on the website. Anyone can submit comments by emailing [email protected], calling (540) 864-5010 or mailing comments to Chairman, Board Of Supervisors P.O. Box 308 New Castle, VA 24127. Only ten people at a time can be present at a meeting.
On May 7, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., the Regular BOS Meeting will vote on Budget Approval.
