Your monthly digest of all things Albemarle. | | |
FY 2024 Recommended Budget | |
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The Fiscal Year 2024 Recommended Budget is built to activate the strategic plan to strengthen our foundation.
The combined capital and operating budget totals $551.5 million dollars. This budget is balanced on a real property tax rate of 85.4 cents per $100 dollars assessed value and on a personal property tax rate of $3.42 per $100 dollars of valuation, the same rates as in Calendar Year 2022.
In the fall of 2022, the Board of Supervisors developed a strategic plan for our future. The result, the Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, is to translate the County’s vision into meaningful actions over the next five years to advance our community in six key areas.
The annual budget development process considers the strategic plan, the five-year financial planning that the Board undertakes in the fall, and the national, state, and local economic outlook and balances that against revenue projections, existing financial commitments, and the County’s financial policies to develop a recommended budget that responsibly invests available revenues in strategic priorities.
While budgets focus on one fiscal year, the multiyear nature of capital projects, advancing strategic priorities, and maintaining service delivery to a growing community mean that the decisions from one fiscal year carry forward into future budget years. This recommended budget carries costs for prior budgets, such as the opening of Biscuit Run Park, construction of the Courts Expansion and Renovation, and staffing needs in public safety and human services; and anticipates financial needs projected for Fiscal Year 2025. Learn more and review the full FY 2024 budget.
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2022 Community Report
We're pleased to share our 2022 Annual Community Report - thank you to the community members, partner agencies, elected officials, and staff that work each day to make this community great.
Read the full report, which features images and stories from 2022.
| We also highlight some of the work we’re proud to have performed in service to our community in our 2022 Year-In-Review video. If you haven't already, view the full-length version on YouTube and learn ways you can keep informed, how you can connect with us, and more! | |
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Board Recognition of Black History Month
The Board of Supervisors proclaimed February 2023 as Black History Month in Albemarle County, VA. We recognize and celebrate the wisdom of civil rights leaders and community builders this month (and every day). Pictured here are Albemarle County staff and community members.
We truly value the Black Americans and residents in our community – we recognize and support your social, physical, and cultural contributions. We will continue to take meaningful actions to create an inclusive and more equitable community for us all. Your stories and achievements are part of our story. We celebrate you and your contributions to the community to help Albemarle County keep growing. View the proclamation.
Happening soon: Black History Month Event: Children’s Financial Literacy Workshop, this Saturday, February 25
You don't want to miss the Children’s Financial Literacy Workshop happening this Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 12 pm - 2:30 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia! This educational event hosted by the County of Albemarle’s Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI) and the City of Charlottesville celebrating Black History Month will be packed with fun, free food, prizes, and more! View event details here.
This event seeks to connect and aspire children with an understanding of financial basics. Each family will receive a free copy of the book, “Mahogany Goes to Wall Street" and the book's author, Janasha "Jay" Bradford, will read segments from her book, focusing on financial literacy for kids. There will be opportunities to learn about helpful resources related to financial wellness from local financial banking representatives. Please note that there is no cost to attend, and parents/guardians are required to be present with their children at all times. We hope you can join us!
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Comprehensive Plan Update (AC44)
Now in Phase Two of the project, we will review and update the 2015 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives and design "planning toolkits" for more detailed recommendations on coordinated transportation and land use planning. The goals and objectives developed in Phase Two will inform the strategies (action steps) that will be drafted in Phase Three.
Click the button below to visit the website and complete a questionnaire designed to help the project team understand our community's needs and priorities. The questionnaire should take about 15-20 minutes. Only have 5 minutes? Consider registering so you can save your work and complete it over time! The questionnaire will be open to responses until March 10.
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Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR) Updates
Happening soon: Parent/Child Winter Dance, this Saturday, February 25
Parks and Recreation is hosting a Parent/Child Winter Dance at Greenwood Community Center, in Crozet. The cost is $10 per family (cash only, pay at the door), it's happening this Saturday, February 25 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm and it’s sure to be a fun-filled time for families! We’ll have music from a DJ, food, games, and more. View the Facebook event for more details. Come out for some family fun and let's dance!
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ACPR is Hiring for the Summer
We're gearing up for summer and need lifeguards, beach managers, and more. Join our team and don't delay, apply today!
Upcoming: Registration for Cross-Country and Track starts March 6
Registration opens Monday, March 6 for Cross-Country and Track middle school
sports!
Our middle school sports program is held at all five Albemarle County middle schools and homeschoolers are welcome as well. This popular after-school program is a partnership between Albemarle County Public Schools and Parks and Recreation. Learn about registration costs, school locations, and more for the upcoming season.
Upcoming: Prescribed Burn Reminder
Prescribed burns help support forest ecosystems, recycle nutrients back into the soil, and control invasive species. This year, the Virginia Department of Forestry is working with the Ivy Creek Foundation and Albemarle County Parks and Recreation to conduct a prescribed burn in the North Field at Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm.
The exact date is to be determined and depends upon weather conditions. The park will be closed to visitors on the day of the burn once a date is decided, so please look out for future notifications once a date is set. If you're not already subscribed, sign up for the Parks and Recreation e-newsletter to get a notification when this burn is scheduled.
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Pitch Competition for Local Small Businesses in Albemarle County and Charlottesville - Deadline to Apply is February 28
The City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development and Albemarle County Economic Development have joined forces to offer educational programming leading to a pitch competition for local small businesses.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners in Charlottesville and Albemarle can apply by Tuesday, February 28, 2023, to participate in Piedmont Pitch, a 10-week program including eight training sessions (Business Essentials Training) offered by the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CV SBDC), pitch preparation with a business advisor, and the opportunity to develop a solid business plan. Graduates of the Piedmont Pitch program have the opportunity to pitch for $15,000 in prizes. View the application and apply here.
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Reminder: Business License Filing Deadline is March 1
The deadline to renew a Business, Professional, Occupational License (BPOL) is quickly approaching. Business owners are required to obtain a BPOL if operating in Albemarle County and can easily renew and pay online at AlbemarleCountyTaxes.org/Business.
There is no fee for payments by electronic check, however, payments by debit/credit cards do have a convenience fee. Renewal applications for business licenses are due by Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Read more about other important reminders related to business owners filing.
If you have any questions, or would like assistance completing your business filing forms, contact Albemarle County's Department of Finance & Budget:
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Recap: Traffic Town Halls
Earlier this month, Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) hosted traffic-focused town halls throughout the county to discuss traffic safety and community concerns. At each event, members of the Board of Supervisors introduced ACPD staff for a data-driven presentation, which was followed by a 1-hour Q&A session with representatives from the Board of Supervisors, ACPD, Community Development, and VDOT.
Thank you to the 100+ community members who took the time to join us at our events. It was wonderful talking with you about this important topic and how we all have a role to play to keep the roads of Albemarle County safe. To read more traffic statistics from 2022, visit our website.
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Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Reporting System
This month, we launched Albemarle County’s Fraud, Waste, and Abuse reporting system, which enables employees and members of the community the ability to anonymously report concerns of fraud, waste, or abuse within County departments and schools. It is a best practice for organizations to have such a reporting system so employees and the public can communicate their concerns about suspected imprudent use of public funds. Read more about this reporting system.
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Learn about more upcoming events and keep up with the latest happenings in the county by visiting www.albemarle.org | |
Have You Visited Our Online Engagement Center?
We are looking forward to providing you with a variety of robust tools designed to enable you to share your expertise, ideas, and feedback with us on a regular basis.
Please visit the site and register to access current and future projects.
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