On June 16, the King George Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a $146,683,998 FY27 budget, up from $138.4 million in FY26.

Assessments & Taxes

With reassessments this year, King George averaged a 21% increase in real estate assessments, giving the county over $5.1 billion in taxable assets, up from $4.15 billion in FY26. The equalized tax rate was $0.56, but the budget includes a 2-cent increase.

According to County Administrator Matt Smolnick, even with the increase, it remains a very low rate. At $0.58, King George is tied with Caroline for the lowest rate in the region. Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Westmoreland, and Richmond County are all higher.

Every penny added to the real estate tax rate is equivalent to $517,330 in revenue for the county, according to Smolnick. King George also recently approved a 2-cent hike for the meals tax, which is levied on all hot food.

Spending & Revenue

Half of the budget is driven by the schools, whose $72 million budget includes federal and state funding, with King George contributing $28.1 million. The school cafeteria budget is separate and stands at approximately $2.3 million. School employees will receive a 5% cost-of-living increase and step 9 decompression.

The next five largest portions of the budget are $22.5 million for public safety—step increases will be provided for sheriff’s office and fire, rescue, and EMS employees, and certification pay is included for fire, rescue, and EMS staff.

The budget proposes $12.5 million for capital improvements. Nearly $10 million will go to debt service while approximately $7.4 million is allocated to Social Services and $6.1 million to general administration.

The budget also includes funding for the comprehensive plan update, a 1% cost-of-living increase, and a 2% merit raise for county, library, and social services employees. The county is adding one new full-time position—a grant writer with a $50,000 salary and an estimated $33,412 in benefits—who will start January 1, 2027, so only half the salary is paid this fiscal year.

“When you look at salaries and benefits for county employees and teachers and then our debt service, you’re at $105 million already. Then you got to start keeping the lights on. That’s another $5 million. So, it doesn’t take long to add [up],” Smolnick said ahead of the public hearing on June 2.

The budget also includes funding for eight non -mandated outside agencies:

• Empowerhouse

• Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank

• Love Thy Neighbor

• Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault

• Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter

• Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board

• Legal Aid Works The budget projects the county collecting approximately $46.1 million from property taxes, $13.1 million from other local taxes, and $13.3 million from non-revenue receipts.

To balance the budget, King George is planning to use $832,517 from the unassigned fund balance and $2.5 million from interest earned on 2023 series bonds.

The county aims to keep at least 15% of the annual budget in the unassigned fund balance and has far surpassed that. Currently, there is about $48 million in that account, placing the county in a “very healthy” position, said Smolnick.