York County Administrator James McReynolds released the proposed FY13 budget Tuesday evening. The proposed budget increases the real estate rate from 0.6575/$100 to 0.775/$100. This increase generates $6.3 million in revenue to cover the increased costs (both county and school division) of the Virginia Retirement System and health insurance as well as a 1.5% raise for employees. The tax rate increase is offset by the recent decline in property assessments. Use the calculator below to determine what the true cost of the tax increase means to you.

Please take a moment to sign our petition to fight for York County schools and click on the email link above to receive periodic updates as the budget process continues.


(Updated February 23, 2012, 9:33 am)

The York County School Board will be forced to make drastic cuts to our school system. Stand up for York County schools by letting our public leaders know the school system is important and needs the support of the county and state. This fight needs to be made on three fronts:

1. The York County School Board: let the board know that cuts across the board are needed rather than cutting special programs that set York County apart from neighboring districts. Consider fees to generate revenue.

2. The York County Board of Supervisors: urge the supervisors to put more funding into the school system NOW so that drastic cuts can be avoided.

3. The Virginia State Legislature: ask the legislators and Governor McDonnell to fund the Virginia Retirement System, which has placed an additional $4.5 million burden on our schools, and fight for bills that would support K-12 education.
(Updated January 27, 2012, 7:29 am)

According to the Virginia Municipal League, which represents local governments throughout the state, Delegate Brenda Pogge has moved to restore some funding to K-12 education. According to the VML legislative bulletin:

Budget amendments introduced in the House and Senate would reverse policy changes included in Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget that would drive up the cost of education mandates on local governments. Item 139 #18h (Pogge) and Item 139 #1s (Blevins) restore the use of an inflation factor of 3.96 percent in the calculation of non-personal support costs when determining the state and required local share of K-12 education.

The budget as introduced eliminated the use of the inflation factor, thereby reducing state funding by about $54 million a year. Without the amendment, the state will base its share of funding on items such as insurance, fuel and utilities on prevailing costs incurred in 2010. By the end of fiscal year 2014, therefore, state reimbursement will be based on data that is four years old. This policy shift does not change the cost of these items, but only shifts more responsibility for paying the bills to local governments. Unlike some items purchased by consumers, items included under the “non-personal support costs” category have experienced inflation during the past two years, and costs are likely to go up in the next two years as well. For example:

1. The price of gasoline was $2.54 a gallon on Jan. 1, 2010. It was $3.30 a gallon on Jan. 1 this year. AAA expects gas prices to rise above $4 before spring.

2. Health insurance premiums also have seen increases over the last several years – a 9 percent increase in 2011 and a 3 percent increase in 2010.

3. Electricity provided by Dominion to governments increased by a minimum of 9 percent in July 2011, and is expected to climb for the next three years.

The state should be recognizing reasonable increases in the payment of non-personal support costs. Otherwise, the state is shifting costs to local governments. Item 139 #17h (Pogge) and Item 139 #6s (Blevins) restore funding reduced in the budget as introduced regarding the recognition of funds received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. The budget as introduced deducted these federal funds in the process of determining the cost of education, thereby reducing state funding by $54 million a year. The state reduced its funding for education, but used these SFSF dollars to make up for some of the loss. The result of the policy change makes those state reductions permanent, however.
(Updated January 29, 2012, 9:03 am)

Superintendent Williams' latest message can be found here.
(Updated January 24, 2012, 7:54 pm)