Proposed $92M budget includes 2% spending increase, mostly for schools
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 17 — County Administrator Amity Moler proposed no take hikes this spring, and even suggested a potential tax rate reduction next spring, when she presented the proposed FY26 budget during Monday’s regular meeting of the Page County Board of Supervisors.
Moler’s proposed $92.2 million budget for fiscal year 2026 represents an overall 2-percent increase in spending — or nearly $1.9 million above the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
About $1.7 million of that increase would be going to local schools, with an anticipated increase in state funding for education of nearly $1.5 million. Moler noted that a local funding increase of $255,180 was allocated for schools after adoption of the FY25 budget. Local school funding has increased a total of $2.5 million since FY2019. Another $2.4 million was invested in school capital projects from 2021 through 2024.
Two other major changes in the overall budget include an increase of $835,624 in general fund spending, countered by a reduction of $772,892 in spending on capital improvement projects, down 28 percent.
Page County’s tax rate on real estate has remained at 73 cents per $100 of assessed value since 2019. The tax rate on personal property (vehicles) has remained at $4.40 since 2020 (previously $4.59). With higher reassessment values on real estate going into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, the proposed FY26 budget was based on a potential tax reduction to 68 cents (per $100) on real estate and $4.30 (per $100) on vehicles in April 2026. No changes are being proposed among the county’s six tax rates this spring.
Those tax rates currently stand at (all rates per $100 of assess value):
- $0.73 — real estate
- $4.40 — personal property
- $1.50 — machinery and tools
- $1.50 — motor carriage
- $0.73 — mobile homes
- $0.50 — aircraft
The proposed FY26 budget is also based on lowering the Mobile Home tax rate to 68 cents as well next spring. Revenues collected during the first half of FY26 would be based on current rates under the proposed plan, while those collected in the second half of the new fiscal year would be based on the reduced rates — if the reduction is approved by supervisors in April 2026.
Moler’s presentation estimated that if tax rates remained the same after higher assessed values are imposed next January, the county could generate an additional $4.4 million. However, the combination of higher values and lower proposed rates would still generate an additional $1,257,187 in FY26.
The county’s decision last year to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax to 10 percent did not “negatively impact” revenues, according to Moler’s report. TOT revenues in the current fiscal year are expected to exceed $4 million, after being estimated at $3.6 million for FY25. The $4 million budgeted for FY26 will generate an additional $280,000 for the general fund and another $120,000 for the Tourism Fund.
In terms of revenues, the county will be delayed in collecting $300,000 through the Public Service Corporation Tax due to switching to a once a year billing system. The delay will effect the second half of FY26 and the first half of FY27. Moler recommended replacing the loss through the General Fund Balance.
On the expense side, $812,185 in additional spending is proposed for personnel expenses, including:
- $276,097 — 3 percent COLA raise for all departments (county share, state paying $134,683)
- $142,651 — 1.5 percent bonus for all departments (county share, state providing $58,585)
- $132,239 — 5.3-percent increase for health insurance
- $99,296 — Restructured Fire-EMS positions
- $95,111 — Sheriff’s Office mid-year raises for academy graduates
- $52,354 — Raises in Planning and Community Development for certifications and additional employee
- $14,437 — Sheriff’s salary increase for managing Animal Control Services ($12,000), plus $2,437 for taxes and benefits
Other increased spending included in the proposed FY26 budget:
- $183,742 — Increased cost of CSA cases
- $170,240 — Sheriff’s Office increased costs for IT services, body cams, drones
- $154,9455 — Increased costs related to the Emergency Communications Center’s new radio system
- $80,000 — Landfill equipment repair
The proposed FY26 budget has earmarked nearly $2 million among a dozen county capital projects from landfill equipment to an ambulance for EMS. Another $2.3 million has been earmarked for school capital projects.
Page County had more than $20 million in unassigned general fund balance at the end of FY24, but more than $5.6 million has been committed to capital projects during FY25 and FY26. A large portion of those funds, along with nearly all of the county’s federal ARPA funds, went toward the county’s match for a regional broadband project that is brining fiber optic to homes in unserved areas. It is also helping cover the delay in collecting corporation tax, and the cost of reassessment.
In 2023, the county invested $6.5 million in developing Cell 11 at the Battle Creek Landfill, as well as another $6.2 million for a for a new emergency radio system. In 2025, $4.2 million (above ARPA funds) was committed to bringing last-mile broadband to remote areas.
Currently, there are $495,132 in unallocated funds in the proposed FY26 budget. Both the sheriff’s office and the schools are requesting additional funding.
After two more budget works sessions in March, the board of supervisors plans to hold a public hearing on tax rates and the budget at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 21. The board is expected to set the tax rates that night.
For a complete look at the Page County FY26 budget presentation,
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