Local news- Press Release
Albemarle County Virginia - Learn More About the FY 2025 Recommended Budget 27 February 2024 ( news )
Albemarle County , state Virginia ( By Press Release office)
Feb 27,2024
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On February 21 , 2024 , County Executive Jeff Richardson presented his Fiscal Year ( FY ) 2025 Recommended Budget to the Board of Supervisors . This is the first step in developing , and ultimately adopting , the annual budget for Albemarle County .
That presentation can be viewed here
.
Stay informed and engaged during the budget development process . Visit
www . albemarle . org/finance
to learn more about the process , including the complete schedule , FAQs , and links to the County’s Operating and Capital Budget . Town halls held throughout the county will be scheduled and announced in the coming weeks .
FY 25 Budget Public Hearings
Wednesday , February 28 | 6 pm - County Executive’s Recommended Budget
Wednesday , April 17 | 6 pm - Board’s Proposed Budget
Wednesday , April 24 | 6 pm - Calendar Year 2024 tax rate
FY 25 Budget Work Sessions
Wednesday , March 6| Work Session #1
Monday , March 11| Work Session #2 , To include School Board funding request and CIP
Wednesday , March 13 | Work Session #3
Wednesday , March 25| Work Session #4 , Board proposes Budget and sets maximum tax rate for advertisement
If needed - Wednesday , March 27| Work Session #5
If needed - Wednesday , April 10| Work Session #6
Learn More About the Budget Development Process
From the County Executive
The FY 25 recommended combined capital and operating budget totals $629 , 054 , 446 . The recommended budget is balanced on a real property tax rate of $0 . 854 per $100 assessed value and on a personal property tax rate of $3 . 42 per $100 of valuation , the same rates as in Calendar Year 2023 .
The annual budget development process considers the strategic plan , the five - year financial planning that the Board undertakes in the fall , and the national , state , and local economic outlook , and balances that against revenue projections , existing financial commitments , and the County’s financial policies , to develop a recommended budget that responsibly directs revenues to strategic priorities .
While budgets focus on one fiscal year , the multiyear nature of capital projects , decisions to transition grant - funded and pilot programs into ongoing operations , and the operating expenses related to the opening of new facilities , means that staff must plan for the long - range financial impacts of decisions made in one year into the future . In FY 25 , for example , the opening of the under - construction new Courts facility and the Public Safety Operations Center require operating revenues as those facilities come online . Similarly , the County’s success in receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) grant funding to hire firefighters has allowed Albemarle County to enhance the fire rescue system using federal dollars – and in FY 25 , those operating impacts begin to require local funding to supplant the grant funds .
The County’s dedication to financial planning implemented in coordination with Albemarle County Public Schools has been a valuable tool for forecasting the County’s revenue and expenditure picture and in providing a helpful framework for decision - making on major financial issues . It is bolstered by the County’s financial management practices , evidenced by the County’s AAA bond rating by the three leading bond rating agencies , Fitch , Moody’s , and S&P – affirmed in Fall 2023 . Through our financial planning process , we set a financial course to meet our mandates and obligations and advance our strategic priorities .
Albemarle County has made strategic investments in recent years to build a strong foundation and , heading into the second year of a five - year strategic plan , I am pleased to see the positive and forceful momentum that we are building . As the community continues to grow , the needs become increasingly complex . What public safety service delivery looks like today is different than it was even ten years ago . What the mobility needs of the community look like today are different than what was conceivable even five years ago . What economic development looks like in the County’s future is different than it was even last year . But we continue to rethink , plan , and transform our organization and our service delivery to remain relevant and responsive . I believe this recommended budget builds momentum for our future .
Jeffrey B . Richardson
County Executive
The Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget is Aligned to the
FY 24 – 28 Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Safety & Well - Being
Over the past several years , Albemarle County has been successful in receiving federal grant funding through FEMA to hire firefighters , to address challenges with volunteer availability and an increase in calls for service in the urban ring . That grant funding has allowed us to meet those needs – but this year , the first round of those grant funds begins to expire , and this budget recommends funding those positions using local funds .
The budget continues to support the Human Services Alternative Response Team ( HART ) , which deploys a cross - functional team to individuals experiencing crisis whose needs are better served by an alternative public safety response – allowing our front - line public safety personnel to focus on remaining available for other calls for service . It continues the planning and field exercise work that the Office of Emergency Management piloted last year so that local and regional partners are well - trained on active threat response tactics and procedures – to save lives when it matters most . This budget continues to support Police , Fire , and Social Services staff in focusing not only on meeting service standards but on ensuring the full needs of those experiencing hardship are met and addressed .
Goal 2: Resilient , Equitable , & Engaged Community
While the County has made progress towards its carbon reduction goals ( reducing the carbon footprint of building operations by 10% ) , the County continues to focus on resilience planning . This budget funds efforts to build a community - driven resilience plan in FY 25 . Our organization continues to connect with residents and create meaningful opportunities to get involved in important County programs .
Goal 3: Infrastructure & Placemaking
FY 25 will mark an incredible milestone for county residents , as public - private partnership efforts will install the final 6 , 100 passings needed to achieve universal broadband connectivity . This budget funds the County’s share of those efforts while focusing on outreach and support for affordability and digital literacy programs .
Goal 4: Quality of Life
In FY 25 , the County will continue the partnership development and site readiness efforts to bring the vision for the Rivanna Futures to reality – to retain and expand the vibrancy of the missions of the federal agencies operating at Rivanna Station .
At the same time , Albemarle is focusing on the transportation infrastructure and network needed to ensure safe and efficient travel – with construction projects planned to begin across the county , along US29 North and in the urban ring , in Crozet , and on 5th Street Extended , representing over $65 million in investments in solutions for all road users , as well as the continuation of the MicroCAT pilot to provide on - demand transit service along Route 29 and at Pantops , and continued support to transit providers CAT and Jaunt .
Affordable housing is another critical component of community vibrancy . This budget supports $2 million to the Housing Fund , which provides funding support for the creation of new affordable housing at deeper levels of affordability and for a longer period of time than would otherwise be possible . It also continues support for programs to provide home repairs and energy efficiency improvements that enable existing affordable housing stock to remain .
In FY 25 , Biscuit Run Park , the County’s newest park ( 1 , 200 acres ) , will open with over 4 miles of trails – with future phases of work planned in future years . This budget continues to support the work of critical program areas , including the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update , AC44 , the zoning modernization , and programming that began in FY 24 to beautify and maintain corridors in the development area through street sweeping and vegetation management . It will also direct revenues from the disposable plastic bag tax , approved in FY 24 , to litter cleanups along roadways .
Goal 5: Education & Learning
This budget funds Albemarle County Public Schools , adding $10 . 1 million in new revenues to Schools operating by formula and plans for FY 25 - 29 for a total of $206 . 8 million in School capital projects . The capital plan will fund the construction of three schools over the next five years and includes $14 . 3 million in planned renovation projects over the next five years .
Goal 6: Workforce & Customer Service
For several years , the County has undertaken an enterprise focus on technology and software systems to transform the way in which the County serves our customers . In FY 25 , the Community Development System , after months of planning and configuring , will launch – enabling permit and plan applicants to view real - time status updates on their application materials . In parallel , this budget funds the new Financial System , which will reduce processing time and provide real - time analytics for financial and budget management .
This budget addresses workforce stabilization so that Albemarle County can maintain quality services for the community by retaining quality public servants by offering competitive salaries and benefits and quality professional development opportunities . In FY 24 , the County undertook a comprehensive Compensation & Classification study and the approved budget had included funding for partial implementation . Based on strong revenue growth , the Board approved for January 1 , 2024 , a midyear salary increase for employees and the final funding necessary to fully implement the Compensation & Classification study , ensuring all employees are compensated at the midpoint of market . This budget continues those salary commitments for the full - year implementation while committing funds for further compensation adjustments on January 1 , with a final recommendation for the Board’s consideration this fall . It continues past commitments to workplace upgrades to create a modern work environment to meet the needs of today’s workforce and commitments to professional development and training .
Get Engaged in Local Government
The community is welcome and encouraged to participate in local government , during the budget development process and throughout the year . Agendas , meeting materials , and streaming information for Public Hearings and Work Sessions - along with past recordings of sessions you may have missed - can be found
online here
.
Never participated in a Board of Supervisors meeting before? Review our
public participation guide
to learn about how you can get involved .
Meeting Information
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