COMMUNITY
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Hanover Cares honored for community leadership.
New book to be discussed at Hanover Tavern event.
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Vol. 3 No. 29 | Richmond Suburban News | February 21, 2018
Demands up, but no tax hike in ’19 By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local HANOVER -- Despite increasing expenditures and demand for services, Hanover County’s proposed 2019 budget does not include a tax increase for its citizens. The current real estate tax rate is 81 cents per $100 of assessed value remains in effect. County administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. told supervisors that a decreased state share, increased educational demands for dollars in addition to smaller contributions from the Commonwealth for the Community Services Board and Social Services have forced the county to provide more funding for those agencies. Harris said general property taxes, specifically real
estate tax revenue, enabled the county to propose a budget that addresses those increases without making changes to the county’s current real estate tax. Those revenues increased by $7 million or 4.5 percent from
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Rhu Harris presented the county’s budget proposal last week to the supervisors.
the previous year. Hanover homeowners are experiencing increased rising prices for home sales, a trend that appears to be happening statewide. The 2019 proposed budget is $463.1 million, which represents an increase from last year’s budget of $22.5 million or 5.1 percent. By far, the largest chunk, about 41 percent, of the proposed budget is slated for education, and the county is providing $6.5 million more than last year to meet those needs, $3.9 million reserved for salary increases and rising health insurance costs. Public Safety also comprises a major part of the county’s budget, and the FY2019 proposal funds six new employees for the Sheriff ’s Office, includ-
ing five patrol officers and one Court Services position. In addition, Harris’ budget provides five new firefighter positions that will enable fulltime staffing at the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department. The FY2019 proposal increases public safety funding by $1.9 million. The budget also allots almost $2 million in increases for Human Services, a large portion of that money slated for compliance with the Children’s Services Act and providing off-site specialty education for identified students. Harris said the backbone of the county’s ability to fund and provide services are the people behind those efforts, the employees of Hanover County. Although the state has prosee DEMANDS, pg. 5
Comp Plan OK’d despite no bike/walk trails By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local HANOVER -- Following a lengthy public hearing last week, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved the 2017 to 2037 Hanover County Comprehensive Plan by a 5-2 vote. Faye Prichard, Ashland District, and Angela Kelly-Wiecek, Chickahominy District, voted against the measure due to the elimination of a section that addressed healthy living and expanded bike and walk trails in new developments.
Two other amendments, one reducing density and the other removing an expansion to the Suburban Service Area (SSA), also were approved prior to the board’s adoption of the Planning Commission’s draft document. South Anna District supervisor Wayne Hazzard began last Wednesday’s public hearing on the draft Comprehensive Plan update by stating he would move to remove one controversial change from the proposed document. An amendment to expand the Suburban Service Area to include the
Hylas area of western Hanover, an area that borders Henrico and Goochland counties, was approved unanimously after supervisors received a clear message from residents who opposed the measure. Hazzard’s announcement did not deter a number of Rockville area residents from expressing their displeasure at the thought of their rural area being designated for commercial use. We moved here to get away from development, we chose Rockville because it’s a little slice of heaven …” see COMP, pg. 12
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Dr. Michael Gill, standing, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, recognized Hanover County School Board members, from left Roger Bourassa, Sue Dibble and Robert Hundley with certificates in conjunction with National School Boards Month.
School budget of $202.9 million gets unanimous approval By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local ASHLAND -- Members of the Hanover County School Board unanimously approved Superintendent Michael Gill’s proposed FY2019 budget totaling $202.9 million at a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13. There was no discussion as John Axselle, Beaverdam District, moved for approval. The vote closes a threemonth process that began in
earnest in December, but, in reality, is a year-long process. Gill presented that budget to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors the following day and outlined the highlights that include a 2 percent raise for employees, the continuation of a fiveyear technology plan aimed at improving opportunities for Hanover’s students and teachers, and the addition of a number of new positions, many of them specializing in see BUDGET pg. 12