PURCELLVILLE, Va. (May 24, 2023) — The Purcellville Town Council approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget on May 23, 2023 totaling $27.8 million for governmental and utility operations and investment in the capital infrastructure. While this budget represents a 16% increase over the FY 2023 total adopted budget of $23.9 million, it is during a time of high inflation. As part of the Budget process, Council reviewed the budget at a line item level of detail. As a result, Town Council held numerous meetings to consider the Town Manager’s Proposed Budget culminating in the adoption of a serviceable budget during inflationary times that maintains the high level of service delivery for which our town has been recognized.
The FY 2024 Operating Budget totals $23.9 million, a $2.6 million or 12 percent increase over the current FY 2023 operating budget. The components of the FY 2024 Operating Budget are: General Fund of $13,611,389; Parks and Recreation Fund of $894,432; and Utility Funds (Water and Wastewater) of $9,437,026. The FY 2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget totals $3.8 million and is comprised of: General Fund CIP of $2,503,480; Parks and Recreation Fund CIP of $156,175; Water Fund CIP of $576,667; and the Wastewater Fund CIP of $594,500.
GOVERNMENTAL:
The General Fund operating budget maintains current service levels to include weekly residential trash and recycling services, and highly regarded response times for street maintenance, snow removal and the delivery of government services. The General Fund budget continues to provide 24-hour / 7 day-a-week Police services.
The General Fund budget was accomplished while reducing the real property tax rate from the prior year by a half-cent from $0.21 to $0.205 per $100 of assessed valuation. Existing real estate valuations within the Town rose by 9.3 percent. As a result, the average residential household increase over 2023 is $7.25 per month or $87 annually. Please note the Personal Property Tax Rates were unchanged from prior year and adopted in February 2023.
The Town’s General Fund CIP for FY 2024 includes $1.9 million for transportation and pedestrian projects to improve traffic flow and enhance Purcellville as a walkable community. The Town has effectively leveraged outside funding sources to include the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Loudoun County and designated Town proffers. As a result, achieving our transportation and pedestrian capital projects without the use of Town Tax dollars in FY 2024. However, use of reserves were expended to fund the Hirst Pond Retrofit and Outdoor Stage projects.
UTILITY:
While the FY 2024 Utility Fund’s operating cost increased 18 percent over the current FY 2023 budget, we were able to maintain single digit rate increases for both Utility Funds over the previous year. The Utility CIP invests $1.2 million in water distribution and sewer improvements. To augment these investments, the Town continues to leverage the majority of Purcellville’s allotment of American Rescue Plan funding to support investment in our critical water and wastewater infrastructure.
MASTER TAX AND FEE ORDINANCE:
As part of the budget adoption, the Town Council also approved the FY 2024 Master Tax and Fee Schedule. Changes to Town rates and fees include: (a) new Park & Recreation Event Fees; (b) Utility user rate/fee increases of 5.0% water and 7.5% wastewater for In and Out of Town. No change in Tiers. As a result, the average utility payer increase over FY23 is $7.89 per month or $95 annually.
The FY 2024 Budget and Master Tax and Fee Schedule will go into effect on July 1, 2023, while the real and personal property tax rates were effective as of January 1, 2023. More information on the budget can be found on the Town’s website at: http://www.purcellvilleva.gov/budget
