POWHATAN -- The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last night adopted a $72.3 million budget that includes a 5-cent increase in the real estate tax rate to 71 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The county had advertised a $73.3 million budget for fiscal year 2009 that would have included a 7-cent increase in the tax rate, from 66 cents to 73 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The budget, adopted unanimously, includes $45.1 million to be appropriated to the School Board as a lump sum, as well as $1.3 million for the school food-service fund.

The supervisors asked the School Board to trim $350,000 from its proposed budget, but last night the supervisors also urged the board to maintain the 2 percent raises that the system wants to give teachers.

"This has been painful for everyone in the process," Supervisor Carson Tucker said. "We are all in this together."

Board Chairman Robert R. Cosby said the supervisors plan to give up an additional $111,000 by increasing tax relief for senior citizens.

"We're not doing this thing without really being conscious," Cosby told the approximately 120 people who attended last night's meeting. "We're conscious about the amount of money you are being asked to pay, and we are conscious of the quality of life in the county."

Cosby said the state has been providing less funding while increasing the number of mandates.
Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 392-6605 or jruff@timesdispatch.com.