Charlottesville, VA (cvillerightnow.com): Charlottesville City Council passed a $265.2-million 2026 budget going that will take effect July 1.

As first reported in the Charlottesville City Engagement Newsletter, City Manager Sam Sanders outlined four major drivers in the funding plan.
They are $7.6-million for schools, 12.7-million for affordable housing along with 2.5-million in tax relief for those needing affordable housing services.
There’s also transportation, which increases transit funding by $606,000-plus, $1.4-million for a full year of collective bargaining increase, and $95,000 for a transit mechanic.
Finally, organizational excellence within city departments that includes implementation of a 4th collective bargaining arrangement without impasse.

It’s connected to no changes in any of the city tax rates, but a tax rate public hearing will not be held until next Monday night, after Council adopts the budget this evening.

The tax rate public hearing was thrown off by a court ruling that the city did not provide proper notification to have that hearing tonight. A budget increase next year from 252-million this year is predicated on higher real estate tax bills from an average 8.8% assessment increase on residential properties and 6.1% on commercial parcels.