Financial stability is central to the County’s ability to provide excellent services to the public. The five-year plan forecasts the growth in revenues and expenditures, especially to include the addition of potential future capital projects, debt service, and operating needs. 

Potential major projects included in the plan over the next five years include:

• Implementation of the Fire & Rescue strategic plan, including hub stations and additional personnel,
• Implementation of the Economic Development strategic plan,
• Additional school debt service limits, recognizing the limitations imposed on capital projects by increasing construction costs, along with state funding changes
• Implementation of Comprehensive Plan initiatives, including a Parks and Recreation master plan,
• Partnership to expand water and sewer services,
• Workforce investment.

The plan forecasts that the cost of County services will steadily outpace revenue growth during the five year period.

If the County takes proactive action to address the widening gap between expected revenues and expenditures, we can restore financial stability and also prepare for future economic downturns.

By state code, the budget is balanced and provides a spending plan for the next fiscal year.  The plan includes funding for the core services of local government:

• public safety,
• education,
• cultural services,
• community development and the
• administrative assistance to support them.

The majority of the budget’s revenues come from:

• property taxes,
• local taxes, and
• funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

General property taxes represent the largest portion of overall revenues that support the services our community needs.

The budget supports core services for Augusta County citizens:

• public safety,
• education,
• cultural,
• community development and the
• administrative services to support them. 

General Operating Fund

The general fund is the government’s primary operating fund and includes all the departments that provide services for citizens such as general government administration, judicial administration for the County court systems, public safety, public works, health and public assistance, cultural, and community development. 

Augusta County’s budget cycle begins each year in December and continues through the final budget adoption in May. The process incorporates a rigorous internal review of each department’s budget and resources are allocated across departments based on program initiatives and priorities.. Each activity funded is reviewed by the County’s Finance Department, the County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors.

Prior to April 1, the County Administrator submits a proposed operating and capital budget to the Board of Supervisors for the fiscal year commencing the following July 1. The operating and capital budget includes proposed expenditures and the means of financing them. 

A public hearing is conducted in April to inform residents about the adopted budget and to obtain citizen comments to guide spending decisions. 

By May, the Board of Supervisors makes its final revisions to the adopted budget and adopts the budget by an appropriations resolution. 

The appropriations resolution places legal restrictions on expenditures at the fund level. The appropriation for each function or category can be revised only by the Board of Supervisors. Appropriations for the current fiscal year are revised in conjunction with the budget planning for the following fiscal year. 

The County Administrator transfers budgeted amounts between general government departments. Funds are appropriated at the department level and appropriations lapse on June 30, for all County operating funds. The School Board transfers budgeted amounts within the school system's categories. 

The County’s practice is to appropriate capital projects by the individual project. Appropriations for capital project funds are continued until the completion of the project or grant, even when the project or grant extends beyond the end of the fiscal year. This way, the County is able to better plan and put aside funds for known major projects on the horizon.