The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on its fiscal year 2027 budget, as well as its advertised tax rates, Monday night in the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium. Most of the crowd spoke out about the proposed real estate and boat tax rates. Acting County Administrator Maria Calloway provided a synopsis on the proposed FY27 budget, which currently totals $89.5 million. The real estate tax rate was advertised at $0.637 per $100 of assessed value, an increase of $0.023, and the personal property levy at $3.15 per $100 of assessed value, a five-cent increase. The real property tax increase due to assessment was advertised at an equalized rate of $0.537 per $100 of assessed value. The supervisors also advertised a 2 percent increase in the meals tax rate, a $1 boat tax rate per $100 of assessed value (recreational only) and a cigarette tax of 40 cents per pack. Gloucester currently does not have a boat or cigarette tax.Residents commented in-person, through ...