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Vol. 4 No. 15 | Richmond Suburban News | December 26, 2018
TOP 10 STORIES OF 2018 Government, education, public safety and growth dominated news By Melody Kinser Managing Editor Taxes, education, public safety, and development took center stage in Hanover County this year in a review of the stories that had the most influence on residents. No. 1 -- The 2019 Hanover County budget did not include a tax hike when County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. told the Hanover County Board of Supervisors in February that the 81 cents per $100 of assessed value for the real estate tax rate would continue. H e RHU HARRIS did note an increase in expenditures and demand for services. More funding was needed for the Community Services Board and Social Services due to a decrease in the state’s share, as well as increased educational demands for dollars in addition to smaller contributions from the Commonwealth. Harris’ budget proposal was $463.1 million, which represented an increase of $22.5 million or 5.1 percent from the previous cycle. Education received the biggest portion – about 41 percent – with the county providing $6.5 million more than the previous year to satisfy those needs. Harris also said that $3.9 million had been reserved for salary increases
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and rising health insurance costs. Public safety also involved a large part of the budget, as the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office was approved to fund positions for six new employees. Five new firefighter positions enabled full-time staffing at the Black
1.......................No tax increases 2......................School tech plan 3...............................Comp Plan 4.......................Ashland council 5..............................MRMC at 20 6.................Bear Island reopens 7...............Tomato Festival at 40 8....................Atlee Station work 9........................U.S. 33 projects 10..................Theatre reopening
Creek Volunteer Fire Department. The proposal increased public safety funding by $1.9 million. There also were increases of nearly $2 million for Human Services, with significant dollars designated to comply with the Children’s Services Act, as well as providing off-site specialty education for identified students. The county administrator offered praise for the county’s employees in explaining why they merit a 2% pay raise. Salary increases upped the budget by $1.5 million. The county’s share for health insurance also went up by $500,000. Harris also presented his Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which was highlighted by funding for the new Atlee Library, the continuation of the school system’s fiveyear technology plan, and a proposed new see TOP 10, pg. 8
Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
The Patrick Henry High School boys’ volleyball team captured its third state title on Nov. 15 at the Kaplan Arena at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. The Patriots defeated Great Bridge in five sets: 25-2; 22-25; 25-20, 22-25 and 15-16. They ended the season with an 18-3 record. The PHHS team was recognized by Bob Hundley, left, chairman, and Michael Gill, right, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, during the Dec. 18 meeting of the Hanover County School Board. Members are: Jarrett Carrano, Jaxon Delgado, Link Hammerschmidt, Cal Inge, Hayden Lane, Ronny Maier, Timmy Matthews, CW McIIhenny, Cameron Miller, Ted Owen, Gage Pond, Adam Price, Ben Russell, Hill Sewell and Ethan Stiles. Michael Towsend is the head coach. His assistants are Jessica Jones, Neal Brigham, Hunter Taylor and Charles Sheppard. Matt Crowder serves as the school’s activities director.
Hanover enrollment follows state trends At the start of the 20182019 school year, 17,462 students were enrolled in ASHLAND -- Hanover Hanover County Public County student enrollment Schools, a decrease has been on the of about 200 students decline or remained from 2017-2018’s figlevel since 2005, and ures, equating to 1.2 this year’s projections percent. indicate more of the Stone said those same for the next five projections are based years. on the past three years Terry Stone, assisof enrollment figures tant superintendent and are formula-drivTERRY for Business and STONE en, accounting for a Operations, delivered prediction last year those projections last week based on Sept. 30 enroll- that forecast steady enrollment figures. Those numbers ment figures.
By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
actually declined. “So, when I stand here and say that I’m not an expert and I cannot see the future, this demonstrates that I cannot . . . because my projection was off by 182 students. We had predicted those numbers would remain level,” Stone said. Stone said that’s part of a trend that, for the first time, was reflected in the Commonwealth’s enrollment figures, which dropped for the first time in recent memory. “For the first time since 1984, the state overall had a see HANOVER, pg. 7