The Gloucester Board of Supervisors heard from county residents during its first public hearings for the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget and tax rates on Wednesday, March 23.
Proposed budget
The largest group in attendance at the meeting, which was held at the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium, were the parents and children of the Gloucester Outlaws Youth Football and Cheer.
In the proposed budget, one of the two capital improvement projects set to be funded is the renovation of Woodville Park, where the youth football program practice. The project is estimated to cost $855,000.
Gloucester Outlaws’ president Shawn Chase was the first of the group to approach the podium.
“We really want the Woodville project to not get cut. That is something that is near and dear to our heart. It’s going to provide our kids something that they need—fields, being able to practice and get out there and enjoy themselves,” Chase said. “The extra lighting, I know its high and the budget obviously is tight. You guys have to do what you have to do but please consider not cutting that.”
Leveling of the fields and lighting were the two main aspects that Chase urged not to be cut if the project has to be reduced in scope. He said the parking lot at night is unsafe for families because of how dark it is without proper lighting. Insufficient lighting on the fields causes conflicts with other youth sports programs that use Woodville Park.
Jessica Chavez, also representing the Gloucester Outlaws, said, “The fields are used right now by 170 kids in just our organization, three to five days a week.”
She echoed Chase’s concerns regarding the need for lighting, especially in the parking lot. She said the leveling will help prevent injuries and would give them space to play games. The current condition of the fields prevents the Outlaws from playing games on them.
Chavez also said the boost of the fields would help Gloucester’s economy because of the potential opportunity to host tournaments that would bring families in from other localities. She said the project might be costly but is necessary, especially for the children.
Tax rates
The second hearing was on the proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2023. The proposed budget is built on a real estate tax increase of 3¢ per $100 of assessed value, with an advertised rate of 6¢ (which allows the board some wiggle room for changes as the board moves toward adoption).
“Honestly 6¢ is what it should be,” said Chase who approached the podium again during the second hearing. “We have a lot of parents here that want these kinds of things here in Gloucester. We have Bay Transit, Bay Aging and all these extra organizations that need extra funds that the budget is not adhering to. I’m willing to pay the taxes to get those things provided for these people and these kids. I think there’s a lot of people that are willing to do that.
“I think we are trying to do everything we can to keep rates low,” Chase continued. “Trust me, I’m a Republican. I don’t want to raise taxes at all but it’s a necessary evil. Three cents, that fulfills what we want but it doesn’t give you guys the options to do anything. So, I’m supporting 6¢ for you guys that way you guys can have a little extra leeway in doing what you need to do to provide our county with something much better.”
Speaking against the real estate tax hike was Nathan Brown. “We’re going to have to start deciding what we can’t pay for,” Brown said. “Mrs. Steele gets up here and says it’s only $7.50 a month increase. I can pay it. It doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t hurt me. I can come up with $7.50. But there are people out there that can barely pay their mortgage right now.”
Another supporter of the Gloucester Outlaws was John Asbell, who said he was fine with a 6¢ tax raise. Asbell did have a request for the board that when the bus garage is built and when the old Page Middle School site is sold, that the earnings from that sale should be used to pay off the garage. He also asked that any funds remaining from the sale be used to support the youth programs in the county.
Kevin Custer said he was against any tax increases if the budget isn’t used for what it promised to accomplish. Custer said instead of cutting approved projects or scaling back when a project’s cost increases, the board should instead find ways to increase the funding.
Chavez said she’s seen all the projects online that aren’t being funded and said there was so much that could be done to make Gloucester better.
She said with taxes comes opportunity to improve the community.
“The lack of taxes is a lack of services, lack of community,” said Chavez.
Michael Roberts emailed his comments to be read aloud during the meeting. “There should not be a proposal for real estate tax increases at this time since there has been no real estate assessment performed since 2020,” he wrote. “Real estate values have increased. A tax increase may not be necessary once the assessments have been made and current tax rates applied. Therefore, I do not support an increase in real estate tax rates at this time.”
No decision on either the proposed budget or the tax rates was made during the meeting. The supervisors have more meetings scheduled, leading up the adoption of the budget, currently scheduled for April 19. The board’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the colonial courthouse.