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They led with the good news. The proposed budget for Buckingham County, which comes in at $72,434,585, will not have any tax increases attached to it. 

“This budget does not suggest a tax increase,” County Administrator Karl Carter told the board of supervisors on April 21. “We have no tax increases for the upcoming year.”  

Beyond that, the budget also includes a 3% raise and 1.5% bonus for all county employees, partly paid for by the state. 

“As you know, historically we follow what the state has done when it comes to compensation and the state is currently planning on a 3% pay increase and a 1.5% bonus to Compensation Board employees,” Carter said. “The remaining non-comp board employees would be funded by the county.” 

The budget includes one new part-time employee for the Community Center. Carter said the place is starting to take off, with citizens using it as county officials had hoped. But now they’re at a point where someone is needed there on a part-time basis, to help with the scheduling and programs. 

Expenses versus revenues

Ok, now it’s time to go over how the money is being spent and what it’s being spent on. Total expenses for this proposed budget stand at $65,434,585. The largest chunk of that comes from Buckingham County Public Schools, at $33,627,900. Now to be clear, that doesn’t mean the county is paying $33 million out of pocket. Because all money comes through the county, this $33 million includes state and federal dollars. It all comes to the county and then the county disperses it to the district. This year, $24,734,602 from the school’s budget comes from sources other than Buckingham County. The district is asking Buckingham County for $9,412,521 in local dollars. That’s an increase of $519,223. The school board has also made a separate request, asking the county for an additional $750,000 to help cover needed pay scale adjustments. Combined, that’s a requested increase of $1.269 million, bringing the requested local school budget to $10,162,521. 

Second is the area labeled government expenses, at $12,864,727. That includes county administration, treasurer, law enforcement, solid waste and other departments. This number is an increase of $515,000 over the previous year. Carter praised the budget work done by county departments over the last few months. That included eight departments making cuts and two that stayed at the same funding as 2024. The final seven departments had slight increases. 

The reserves set aside for upcoming projects, aka the commitments, total $5,890,910. Current debt service stands at $3,469,991 and finally the Department of Social Services rounds out the top five at $2,517,818.  

And speaking of debt service, there are five main projects still being paid for in Buckingham County. First is the courthouse, with an estimated payment this year of $503,141. It’s projected to be paid off in 2034. Then there’s the elementary school, with an estimated payment of $2.236 million. The first loan will be paid off in 2027 and the second in 2032. The middle school will have a $378,750 payment this year and then should be paid off. The library/community center has a payment due this year of $349,188 and will be paid off in 2039, while the wastewater plant will be paid off in 2033, with a payment this year of $181,176. 

What about Buckingham revenue? 

So we know what’s being spent. How much is coming in? Buckingham has for the projected budget a total revenue of $23,022,865. Out of that, $14.82 million is real estate taxes. A total of $4.651 million is personal property taxes. Other local taxes draw $817,000, while penalties and interest collects $440,000. 

The local sales/use tax pulls in $1.07 million, while utility tax brings $370,000 and the motor vehicle license pulls in $350,000. Permits collect $124,600, while use money/property brings $286,049. Finally, other local revenue brings $94,216. 

That was just the budget presentation. Discussion on both the tax rate and budget will be held this week.