The Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings for the fiscal year 2025-2026 (FY26) advertised budget and proposed tax rates during their regular board meeting:

Budget Public Hearing:  April 23, 2025  | 7 p.m.  |  Boardroom, Government Center

For general budget Information, please visit www.augustacountyva.gov/budget and find links to the FY26 Budget engagement page. On the engagement page, please participate in the budget feedback survey, which will remain open through Wednesday, April 23. 

In an effort to proactively prepare for financial stability with future additions of planned capital projects, debt service, and operating needs, the county's FY26 Five-Year Financial Plan forecasts the growth of expected revenues and expenditures.   

After the public hearing on April 23, the Board will make final revisions to the advertised budget. Approval of the FY26 budget is scheduled for May 14 at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting (the date for approval is subject to change).

At the budget work session on March 31, the Board of Supervisors revised the staff-recommended budget to include the following revisions. 

Budget Work Session (March 31, 2025) – Revisions

Proposed Tax Rates

The tax rates proposed for 2025 include the following:

A proposed increase in the tax on cigarette sales from $0.30/pack to $.40/pack will be considered. A cigarette tax increase will require a public hearing separate from the budget.

The Proposed Budget for FY 2025-2026

The advertised general fund budget details $145.3 million in general fund spending, a 4.8% (or $6.6 million) increase from the adopted FY25 budget.

Of the general fund revenue:

• Local revenues total $128.8 million (a 5% increase over FY25) and
• Combined state and federal revenue totals $14.6 million, an increase of approximately $91,963 (a 0.6% increase) over FY25.

The Board considered department and agency budget requests to arrive at the total expenditures in the advertised budget. The following chart breaks down expenditures by function.

• Almost half of the total general fund budget is a direct contribution to the county schools, an increase of $4.8 million when compared to the FY25 original budget.
  • $2.8 million of the increase will go directly towards the schools operating costs, the remaining $2 million will increase their debt service used to fund the school’s capital improvement plan.
• The budget includes a 10% increase on the base contribution for fire-rescue volunteer agencies as well as an additional allowance for training reimbursement.
• The county’s costs for regional services are increasing, including contributions to the Central Shenandoah Health Department, Office on Youth, Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center, Regional Landfill and Valley Community Services Board. Funding is also increasing for agencies like the Valley Children’s Advocacy Center, and Headwaters Soil & Water Conservation. 
• This budget also addresses changes made by the board in income guidelines for the Tax Relief for the Elderly or Disabled program.
• The budget includes additional operating budget for the new county courts building starting in late 2025, in the amount of $232,470.
• The budget proposes to add several new positions that are directly related to support the new courts facility and to continue with implementation of the fire-rescue strategic plan:  six additional full-time Sheriff’s Bailiff’s; eight EMS providers for Riverheads.  
• This budget continues to set aside funds for future capital expenditures, although this amount has been decreased by $1,880,000 and redirected to the schools debt service to allow further capital improvements of their facilities.
• The budget continues to focus on the county’s commitment to ensuring that pay for employees is and remains competitive.
• This budget provides stability in county services. 
• Unfunded departmental operations requests for FY 2026 total over $6.2 million, which mainly consist of additional personnel requests. There were 34 full time positions requested by departments and only 16 were funded.

How can you participate in the budget process?

There are several ways:

• Participate in the budget engagement survey.
• Attend a meeting in person (view meeting calendar) www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/meetings-agendas).
• Submit an e-comment at  www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/meetings-agendas or www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/speak. 
• Email the Board of Supervisors at board@co.augusta.va.us. 
• Leave a voice message at 540-245-5600. 
• Watch the Board of Supervisors meeting livestream: RegionalWebTV (closed caption) or www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/meetings-agendas.

You can also sign up for e-notices for the budget and county finance at www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/e-notices – check the topic for ‘Administration, Policy, Finance.’

FY26 Recommended Budget

FY26 Five-Year Financial Plan

General Information about the Budget Process

FY26 Budget Handout for Public Hearing – including revisions from the Board of Supervisors from their March 31 budget work session (will be linked when available).