The Gloucester Board of Supervisors held a town hall meeting on Wednesday March 30 to get community input about the proposed FY 2022-2023 budget. The event at the T.C. Walker Education Center saw little turnout; however, the residents in attendance made their opinions known.

The proposed budget is constructed around a 3¢ increase to the real estate tax. The increase will largely go to pay increases to Gloucester County and Gloucester school employees. Currently, Gloucester is having a trouble both recruiting and retaining employees. The county has seen 57 employees leave since July 2021.

The proposed budget would also fund two Capital Improvement Plan projects—the Aberdeen Creek pier renovation and renovations for Woodville Park. Woodville Park is the more costly of the two at about $855,000. The renovations include the leveling of three unusable fields and providing irrigation to four fields.

The tax increase has been met with criticism by those against any raises, as well a...