Chesterfield’s approved FY27 budget increases 4.7% to $1.09 billion
Posted April 11, 2026 at 10:46 PM, Filed Under: All News, Front Page, MeetingsBy Greg Pearson
The FY27 budget that starts July 1 lowers the car tax rate and expands tax relief for seniors and sets aside initial funding toward $220 million for Chesterfield’s fourth water source. The real adjusted General Budget retains the $1,767 per capita spending of the current budget and is slightly less than ten years ago in 2017. Chesterfield is the fastest growing county in Virginia.
On average, county property tax collections increased 4.55% last February, slightly above the average of 4.1% over the past 20 years since 2006. Chesterfield officials proudly pointed to having the lowest personal property tax rate in FY27 of the Richmond area at $3.27 per $100 assessed value, down a dime from FY26.
Chesterfield County Public School teachers get an average increase of 5% in pay costing an additional $8 million over the current fiscal year. Other increases include $843,000 for the Chesterfield Police Department, $723,000 more for the Sheriff’s Department and Fire and EMS get $2.1 million more for its department.
The program for the May meeting of the Brandermill Region Men’s Club (BRMC) was a PowerPoint presentation by Chesterfield Budget Director Gerard Durkin and Budget Manager Shane Hill. The complete PowerPoint is provided below.
Last March, both the Virginia State Senate (SB917) and the House of Delegates (HB1263) sent their proposed legislation to Governor Abigail Spanberger that would permit an expanded role for collective bargaining with public sector employees statewide. Spanberger has made more than 20 changes to the draft legislation, including having collective bargaining begin in 2030 after she leaves office.
At the BRMC meeting Durkin was asked if Chesterfield County has taken a position on collective bargaining. Durkin responded that “all the board members signed a letter to the Governor’s office in opposition to collective bargaining.”
County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey will be the speaker at the June BRMC meeting and likely reminisce about the past 11 years in his position. Casey announced his retirement effective July 1, and Chesterfield has not announced his replacement yet. The June 4th meeting will be held at the Brandermill Church at 10 am. In addition to BRMC members, Chesterfield County residents are invited to attend.