Gloucester residents will get the first of two opportunities to speak out on the county’s proposed FY 2025 budget at a town hall meeting tonight, Thursday, March 21, beginning at 6 o’clock in the T.C. Walker Education Center Auditorium.

The town hall meeting will provide citizens a time to express comments, concerns, or questions about the County Administrator’s proposed budget.

The total FY 2025 proposed budget currently sits at approximately $148.4 million. The budget also includes an approximately $85.4 million county general fund budget that does not include a tax increase.

The general fund budget for FY25 is about $1.1 million less than the current operating budget as a result of transfers out due to debt retirement, less capital spending and an increase in state funding from the CSA. The general fund budget totals to about $84 million, with $45 million left when amounts are transferred to the School Operating Fund, Social Services, Children’s Act Fund, Capital Improvement funds and debt services.

The county’s drafted budget also calls for a $30.4 million contribution to county schools, which would provide level funding.

FY 2025 budget provides for a 3.2 percent COLA (cost of living adjustment), selective staff additions and promotions, and support of existing external agencies and partners. The budget also includes a 12 percent increase in health insurance costs, an addition to that county administrator’s contingency up to $500,000, $1 million in tax relief, and a need for one-time funds to balance the operating budget due to low revenues.

A public hearing on the FY 2025 budget will be held at 6 p.m. next Wednesday, March 27 in the T.C. Walker Education Center Auditorium. To submit comments online, complete the Citizen Comment Submission form, which can be found at www.gloucesterva.gov/citizencomment.