CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors approving a nearly $638-million fiscal 2026 budget Wednesday. Included is a 4-cent real estate tax rate hike — which will couple with higher assessments — for higher tax bills. The bulk of the rate hike, according to County Communications Director Abbey Stumpf, goes to public safety. The 3.2-cent earmark of that hike includes, one, hiring 6 new police officers — 2 more officers for each shift — making emergency response times less in a huge county. It also provides more officer backup opportunity when needed. Secondly, money will also be used to pay the additional 57 firefighters hired from FEMA grants that the county must now pick up salaries and benefits now that the federal money expires.
Click here for the full budget agenda item.