The Augusta County Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings on the proposed budget and tax rate on April 22, 2020, at 7 p.m. The hearings will be held electronically, in order to safeguard against the spread of COVID-19.

The budget can be viewed at www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/budget.

The real estate tax rate proposed for calendar year 2020 is $0.63 per $100 of assessed value, which is the same rate as in 2019. The proposed personal property tax rates are advertised at the current rates of $2.50 for vehicles and $2.00 for other personal property per $100 of assessed value.

Information on how the public can participate in the meeting is below. The agenda packet for the meeting can be found on the calendar event.  The public can follow these budget presentation slides during the livestream. 

Budget Overview

An operating budget is a plan for annual spending and proposes how to pay for the spending (taxes, fees, etc.). The budget details Augusta County’s projected revenues and expenditures for the coming year from July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.  The plan includes funding for the core services of local government:  public safety, education, recreation, culture, community development and the administrative services to support them.

The budget was developed with the help of all departments who gave input from program managers within the department. Budget requests were submitted and reviewed with the finance department for revisions and adjustments.

Budget Schedule

Virginia state codes and laws drive the budget process and its timeline. Augusta County is dedicated to providing core services. In order to do that, the budget process needs to proceed in order for the County to keep its commitment and to operate effectively and in the best interest of the citizens.

The schedule for budget adoption was adjusted to comply with the Commonwealth of Virginia orders to limit gatherings and to stay at home. The proposed schedule is currently:

Advertise Budget in Newspaper 15.2-2506  - 4/15/20
Public Hearing 15.2-2506  - 4/22/20 - Regular meeting
Adopt Budget 15.2-2503  -  5/13/20 - Regular meeting

The budget was prepared over several months prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Revenue estimates and the spending plan do not take into account the potential effects of the crisis since the outcomes and impacts are currently being reviewed and are not yet fully known. Contingency planning and reconsideration of plans will be necessary as outcomes become clearer. 

Tax Rate Overview

State code requires that the Board of Supervisors set a real estate tax rate for the calendar year. Once the tax rate is set, the real estate tax bills are generated and are collected twice annually, on June 5 and on December 5. In order to process the tax bills to meet the June 5 due date, the Board must adopt the tax rate by May 13. Currently, the schedule for tax rate adoption remains the same as the proposed budget schedule above. At the April 22 meeting, the Board will decide if a revised schedule for tax rate adoption or due dates is needed.

Citizens are asked to participate in the following ways:

• Speak at the meeting by signing up ahead of time online at www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/budget or call 540-245-5600 to register to speak. Commentary may also be submitted through the same link or over the phone. Commentary will be noted at the meeting and added to the minutes. 
• Email board@co.augusta.va.us with your comments. Comments submitted through email will be noted at the meeting and added to the minutes.
• View and comment on Augusta County's Facebook Livestream. Questions or comments on Facebook that are directed to the Board will be relayed. In one comment space, please type your name and address first and follow immediately with your comment or question. Giving your name and address will indicate that your comment is intended for the meeting and will be part of official records, noted at the meeting and added to minutes. 
• Call in to speak on the night of the meeting using one of the following numbers. We ask that citizens still sign up to speak ahead of time at www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/budget.
  • (508) 924-2087 (for those using a mobile phone)
  • (844) 855-4444 (toll-free for those using a land line)

Callers can follow the meeting through livestream and, at the appropriate time, will be prompted to call in. Callers can also call either number any time after 7 pm and wait on hold until the appropriate time. Callers will be muted upon entering the conference call. When it is the caller’s turn to speak, the phone line will be unmuted and they will hear a prompt to speak. 

Thank you for your patience as we implement new processes and platforms for our electronic meetings.