Nelson County board nearer approving slightly leaner budget

By: Erin McGrath | Nelson County Times
Published: June 03, 2009

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors took public comments last week on the proposed $30.6 million budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

County residents filled almost every seat in the Nelson County Circuit Courtroom, but fewer than a dozen people spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

The proposed budget is more than $1 million less than this year’s budget, which was $31.7 million.

Debbie McCann said minimal growth in real estate tax and an overall decline in personal property values contributed to the decrease in revenue for the budget.

Local revenue was more than $500,000 for fiscal year 2009-2010 than in fiscal year 2008-2009, state revenue was almost $259,000 less and federal revenue increased by $1.35 million because of a public safety grant to increase interoperability of communications.

Pete Purdue, of the Rockfish Valley Community Center, thanked the supervisors for continuing to fund the hot meals provided at the senior centers.

“For them, the county-funded congregate meal program is very important,” Purdue said.

Many seniors who attended the hearing echoed Purdue’s thoughts.

“Hard times are not new to us older people,” said Norma Watson, of Gladstone. “But we manage with what we have. Please make every effort for some of those financial worries to be a little bit less for us.”

Robert Conns, of Lovingston, protested the 27 percent increase on the personal property tax on his vehicle.

Conns called the supervisors action on changing the personal property taxation method “unconscionable” and said the supervisors should cut spending and cut taxes.

After the public hearing was closed, supervisors thanked residents for their comments.

North District Supervisor Thomas Harvey called this budget year “one of the toughest.”

“I think we did the best we could,” Harvey said. “Everybody is affected equally.”

South District Supervisor Joe Dan Johnson said they have not been forced to cut any services, even after the state cut funding from some of its programs in the county.

West District Supervisor Thomas Bruguiere Jr. said that the lack of pay raises factored into the budget.

“Everybody is tightening up their belt,” Bruguiere said. “Everybody has to learn to get by with less.”