Gloucester’s proposed budget includes tax bump, bonus for employees

March 09--The proposed fiscal year 2018 budget for Gloucester County suggests a 1.5 cent increase in the real estate tax rate and a possible end-of-year bonus for all employees as a substitute for a pay raise.

County Administrator Brent Fedors presented his proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday night. He said his proposal "gets at just the core needs" and supports the county's "three 'S' initiative" of savings, enhanced services and production strategies.

"This is bare-bones. Cut to the bone, take a straw and suck the marrow out of the bone," Fedors said. "My goal is to operate the leanest most effective organization possible."

The nearly $64 million budget is $1.59 million more than the fiscal year 2017 spending plan, a 2.56 percent increase. It includes an increase in the real estate tax rate from 69.5 cents to 71 cents per $100 of assessed value.

For a house assessed at Gloucester's median value of $224,000, a 71-cent rate would translate to a $33.60 increase in next year's tax bill, to $1,590.40.

According to Fedors, the tax increase would generate about $600,000 in revenue for the county. In Gloucester County, 1 cent on the real estate tax rate generates about $400,000 in revenue. No other tax rate changes were proposed.

YORK -- In a presentation of his fiscal year 2018 budget draft, York's county administrator recommended bringing in up to eight new firefighters and meeting the school division's request for about $1.3 million more from the county, two subjects that have been topics of interest in the county because...

YORK -- In a presentation of his fiscal year 2018 budget draft, York's county administrator recommended bringing in up to eight new firefighters and meeting the school division's request for about $1.3 million more from the county, two subjects that have been topics of interest in the county because...

The supervisors voted Tuesday to advertise a real estate tax rate proposal of 72.5 cents. Fedors said that gives the board flexibility should it decide to fund any additional requests. The board cannot approve a rate higher than the rate advertised without holding another public hearing.

The proposed budget includes a 1 percent employee bonus that Fedors said is contingent on the year-end operating results of fiscal year 2017. If $574,000 is returned to the county administrator's contingency fund it will be used for the bonus.

"Compensation is a big issue for the county and schools combined," Fedors said. Both received 4 pecent salary increases in fiscal 2017, he said. "We have to be lean. We've got to find the dollars. If we can't find the dollars they are not going to be there. I need to make sure that we can operate and deliver services to community most effectively as a number one priority. If there's leftover, there are other unfunded priorities and I'm suggesting the bonus substitute be that for this fiscal year."

Fedors' proposed budget includes $24.38 million in for the schools, almost $601,0000 more than fiscal 2017.

Superintendent Walter Clemons' proposed budget for fiscal 2018 asks for more than $26.1 million in local funding, a 9 percent increase over the current fiscal year and more than $1 million more than Fedors is proposing.

Fedors said the county and the schools are facing a combined $2.25 million increase in the cost of health insurance.

The proposed budget includes $4.89 million for capital projects. Fedors proposed using $2.59 million of the county's fund balance, a sort of rainy day fund, to pay for projects that are one-time expenses. About $1.6 million will be paid for using bonds and the remaining $700,000 is grant funded.

The budget proposal includes level funding for civic contributions and fire and rescue, Fedors said.

Residents will be able to comment on the proposed budget at a public hearing at 7 p.m. March 29 at the Thomas Calhoun Walker Education Center on T.C. Walker Road. The Board of Supervisors and School Board will hold a joint budget work session at 7 p.m. March 21, also at the education center.

Hubbard can be reached by phone at 757-298-5834.

Budget at a glance

Proposed FY18 general fund total: $64 million

Approved FY17 general fund total: $62.4 million

Real estate tax rate for FY17: 69.5 cents per $100 of assessed value

Proposed real estate tax rate for FY18: 71 cents per $100 of assessed value

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