by Jackie Nunnery
LANCASTER—Lancaster supervisors on Thursday, April 23, held a public a on a proposed $57 million county budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
As proposed, the budget is based on an increase in the real estate tax rate from $0.55 to $0.60 per $100 of assessed value. The increased tax rate is not necessarily the final tax rate, but does allow supervisors some room to adjust. Virginia code allows the county to adjust tax rates downward without holding an additional hearing. The board will finalize a tax rate in addition to adopting a budget at its May 28 meeting.
With the proposed increase in real estate tax, revenues are projected to total $50,273,183, an increase of $5,297,103, or 11.78%, over the current budget. With an estimated beginning fund balance of $6,729,346, funds available to the county total $57,002,529.
On the expense side, county administrator Don Gill said the budget includes a 3% raise for all full-time county employees, coverage of a 7% health insurance premium increase and….
