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New Fire/Rescue Positions Included, More May Come
Members of the Board of Supervisors held the line on Rockbridge County taxes this year but they might not be so fortunate next year.
That cautionary suggestion was offered last week by Dan Lyons, who said adding paid emergency medical services crews to fully cover the county could come with a cost in the fiscal 2026 budget.
“We need to provide this service for all citizens of the county,” said Lyons. “Don’t act surprised if we have to have a tax increase next year.”
The fiscal year 2025 budget, passed last week without any tax or fee increases, includes funding for three new fire and rescue captains who will serve the entire county and operate out of the dispatching offices in Buena Vista.
Other new positions funded in the new fiscal year include two parks and recreation crew members. All county employees are being given 5 percent pay raises.
The local appropriation to the schools is set at $17,302,686 – an increase of $583,119, or 3.5 percent.. The county is providing $650,836 to the Rockbridge Regional Library – an increase of $65,418, or 11.17 percent.
Overall general fund spending included in the budget is $64,471,724 – an increase of 13.5 percent. The real estate tax rate remains at 61 cents per $100 value and the personal property tax rate is staying at $4.25. The machinery and tools tax remains at $2.55. Personal property tax relief is set at 27 percent.
