CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Albemarle County Executive Jeff Richardson’s budget recommended Wednesday to the Board of Supervisors that raises the real estate tax rate for the first time since 2019. If the Board agrees, the real estate tax rate in a $642.4-million budget increases by 4-cents to 89.4-cents per $100 of assessed value. 3.2-cents of the increase pays for the new fire department positions that were funded by FEMA SAFER funds in the past year, as well as six new police officer positions.  There are also operations of the new courts building opening this year as well as Albemarle’s share of the regional jail renovation.

The remaining 8-tenths-of-a-cent tax raise are split between public school operations and $1.2-million for affordable housing.

Also included, $14.3-millon more for schools. The budget also restores the personal property tax that was reduced while car prices skyrocketed back to the pre-pandemic $4.28-per-$100 assessed. Click here for all the documents of Richardson’s presentation.