District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates by Supervisor Tom Shepperd

Thomas "Tom" G. Shepperd, Jr. York County Supervisor, District 5 Hm: (757) 858-8591 Mb: (757) 903-1875 Email address: Shepperd@yorkcounty.gov District 5 Report and Crime Watch Update Subscribe for District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates Dear Neighbors,   The District 5 Report is designed to keep you up to date on activities in and around our area. Residents and homeowner associations are encouraged to share the information with others in their communities.  Please click on the "Subscribe" to receive the report or send an email request to shepperd@yorkcounty.gov.  Comments and questions are always welcome.*   Regards,   Tom   Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr. District 5 Representative York County Board of Supervisors   (C) 757-903-1875 (H) 757-868-8591   shepperd@yorkcounty.gov tgshep@cox.net   -------------March 2025 District 5 Report and Crime Watch Update----------- York County’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget I realize the budget information that follows can be a bit confusing and stressful to some of you. My intent is not to overwhelm you with budget details. I simply want to highlight key points that will aid you in understanding what is going on. From my perspective, the County is in good fiscal shape. Yes, we have some challenges, as we do with every budget, but I know we will get through this one in a manner that continues York County’s reputation as one of the best places to live, work and play in Virginia. The York County Administrator has proposed an FY26 budget totaling $288 million for all funds. The general fund or what is commonly called the County’s operating budget is $200 million. Revenue for the general fund comes from your real estate tax, personal property tax, sales, meals and other local taxes. Also, business licenses, fees, and other charges along with state and federal aid add to the revenue. Compared to the FY25 budget, which ends June 30, 2025, the FY26 budget revenue is projected to increase by $11 million or 5.8%. The real estate tax revenue will increase by $5.8 million and personal property tax revenue will increase by $1.9 million. Expenditures for FY26 include $2.5 million for a 4% plus $500 general wage increase for the County staff, $2.4 million increase for Public Safety, $1.0 million increase in support for our schools, $1.3 million for increased operating costs, $0.8 million increase in external agency support and a $3.0 million increase in cash capital, debt service, and our local share of social services. To make all of the above balance out, the County Administrator proposes a real estate tax increase from $0.74 to $0.78 and an increase in the personal property tax from $3.80 back to $4. You may recall the Supervisors dropped the personal property tax by $.10 in each of the last two years. Prior to that the rate had been $4. To put the proposed York County tax rates into some perspective, the County’s proposed $0.78 rate when compared to existing tax rates in neighboring full service governments is the third lowest. However, comparing tax rates doesn’t provide a complete picture. We all know that the assessed value of a home and the tax rate determine your real estate tax. So, a better way to compare tax rates is to look at the liability or burden the tax rate places on the taxpayers. The slide below shows a comparison of the burden the proposed real estate tax rate of $0.78 will be as compared to our surrounding jurisdictions. Looking at the chart for York County, you see a real estate tax rate of $.78, a median home value of $411,200, a household tax burden (this is your tax) of $3,207, and a median household income of $108,326. This results in a tax burden of 3.0%. What this means is that 3% of the median household income goes to pay for real estate tax. As a percentage of income, York County residents will have more disposable income to buy groceries, make car payments, etc. than nearly all the localities on the list. This shows that our County budget is lean, that we defer paying for non-essential stuff, and as a result you get great service at minimal cost. So how will the proposed 4¢ real estate tax increase impact you? If your home is valued at $200,000, you will pay $80 more a year for a total of $1,560 for the year. If the home is valued at $400,000, you will pay $160 more for a total of $3,120 for the year. If your home is valued is $800,000 you will pay $320 more or a total of $6,240 for the year. Since we pay out tax bills every six months, you can divide the increase in half to see your semiannual bill. What is driving the proposed tax increase? To start off with, there is a $11 million gap between revenue and expenditures. Our employees are critical to meeting resident needs. Keeping a quality work force requires that we must ensure a competitive wage. That is why the Administrator is proposing a $2.5 million increase to support an across the board 4% plus a $500 pay raise.   As many of you know first-hand, York County’s education system ranks #1 in all of Hampton Roads and #3 in the State. In addition, several of our schools are nationally ranked. How many times do you hear that people moved here for the school system? To help maintain this success, our home values, safety and quality of life the Administrator proposes adding $1 million to support our education system.  Another driver for the tax increase is $2.4 million investment in Public Safety. In FY 25, we added 4 Sheriff deputies, 3 firefighters, 2 specialists paramedics for pharmacy mandated services, and 2 information technology specialists to support the Sheriff’s technology requirements. Now, in FY26 we must cover the cost of these employees. Additionally, the County is paying more for overtime, Work as Required support, and certification pay increases for our Sheriff’s Department. Currently, the Sheriff is asking for five more deputies (4 for traffic and 1 for court security) but as it stands now the new budget does not support this request. The Supervisors would most likely have to raise the real estate rate by an additional 1¢ or cut an important service to make this happen. Managing operations cost is another tax driver. An additional $1.3 million is needed to support the County’s ground maintenance, digital library subscription, internal service increases, and contractual services, utilities, and other expenses. Regionally, the County share of the cost for the Regional Jail, Transit Authority, Williamsburg Regional Library and other agencies has increased by $800,000. Finally, $3.0 million is needed to restore the County’s Cash Capital Funding, pay for increases in debt service and our local share for the increases in social services under the Children Services Act. In summary, the proposed tax rate will increase by 4¢ to $0.78 and the personal property tax will increase by 20¢ to $4.00. You can find a complete summary of the budget online at www.yorkcounty.gov.  Here is the schedule for the FY26 budget. Please note that April 3 is a Town Hall meeting in which you can express your ideas and talk with the Supervisors about the budget.  April 1 - BOS Work Session April 3 – Town Hall/Listening Session (Not televised or recorded) will be at the Law Enforcement Building (7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.) 159 Goodwin Neck Rd. Yorktown, VA 23690. Come talk to the Supervisors. April 8 – BOS Work Session (additional) April 15 – BOS Regular Meeting - Public Hearing on the FY2026 Budget and CY2025 Tax Rates April 17 – BOS Work Session (additional) April 22 – BOS Work Session (additional) May 6 – Adoption of FY2026 Budget, CIP, and Tax Rate

Development News Update on the Salvage Yards - I want to thank everyone who responded to my request for comment on a potential development of approximately 20 acres of land at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Route 17.  The developer was made aware of the Supervisors negative view towards adding residential development to the commercial project. The commercial portion of the project was acceptable but not the residential component. Traffic congestion around the intersection is a major concern. Since the initial presentation the developer and staff have been working on additional proposals for the site including the County possibly buying some of the land for later resale. I will let you know if and when another proposal is presented for Supervisors consideration.   Storage Facility - There is a storage facility planned for the salvage yard property at 2100 and 2044 George Washington Memorial Highway. The parcel is approximately 7 acres. This is the old Doody’s property. The facility will have an RV storage lot at the back of the property and ministorage towards the front. There are 3 applications for the facility that will go to the Planning Commission in April 2025 before making their way to the Board of Supervisors.   Chick-Fil-A restaurant – This is a by-right development and will not come before the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors. The 5,195 square-foot restaurant will be on a 6.9 acre parcel adjacent to the Grafton Post Office at 5600 George Washington Memorial Highway (Rt.17). Access to the property will be through Rt.17 and North Constitution Drive. Currently, the plan is under review by VDOT for a traffic analysis. There is no projected date for the start of the project.

* Comments and opinions expressed in the District 5 Report are authorized and approved by me and do not necessarily represent the position of other elected representatives. All email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and to the Virginia Public Records Act, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

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Tom Shepperd | 131 Chinquapin Orch | Yorktown, VA 23693-2322 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

TST Fabrication and Machine Expands Norfolk Headquarters

Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · March 11, 2025    CONTACTS: Office of the Governor Contact: Peter Finocchio Peter.Finocchio@governor.virginia.gov Virginia Economic Development Partnership Contact: Pryor Green pgreen@vedp.org TST Fabrication and Machine Contact: Jeff Yeager JYeager@tstfab.com TST Fabrication and Machine Expands Norfolk Headquarters   Veteran-owned metal fabrication company will invest $3 million and create 56 new jobs RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that TST Fabrication and Machine, a service-disabled, veteran-owned metal fabrication company, will invest $3 million to expand their existing Norfolk headquarters. The company fabricates sheet metal and manufactures machine parts for the Navy. The project will create 56 jobs.   “This investment is a testament to our thriving manufacturing sector and the skilled workforce that drives our economy forward,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The sheet metal and machine fabrication industries are vital to modern infrastructure, and this expansion will create jobs, boost innovation, and further establish Virginia as a hub for advanced manufacturing.”  “We look forward to seeing the positive impact this expansion will have on our community and the U.S. Navy, as well as Virginia’s continued economic growth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “I would like to thank our partners at VEDP, the Hampton Roads Alliance, and the City of Norfolk for making this project possible.”  “We at TST Fab & Machine are thrilled to deepen our roots in Norfolk with this expansion,” said TST Fab & Machine President Matt Hemsley. “This $3 million investment not only signifies our commitment to the region but also reinforces our dedication to supporting the Navy and our national defense. I am incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the continued partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Norfolk. Together, we are setting the stage for future growth, innovation, and job creation, enhancing our community and strengthening our contributions to America’s industrial and defense sectors.”  TST Fabrication and Machine was formed in 2021 through the acquisition of an existing metal fabrication shop in Norfolk and a machine shop in Chesapeake. It is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that specializes in precision machine shop services, custom sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, welding, and painting. Materials include stainless steel, copper, nickel, bronze, titanium, and composites.  “Small business continues to be the life blood of our economy,” said Senator Angelia Williams Graves. “ I commend TST Fabrication and Machine for their tenacity and their ability to not only stay in business but to expand. I am proud to represent a city where our veterans can thrive and are contributing members of the business community."  “TST Fabrication and Machine’s expansion reflects Norfolk’s strong industrial and maritime economy,” said Delegate Bonita Anthony. “Small businesses are the foundation of our community, creating jobs and opportunities that sustain families. I welcome this investment and look forward to the opportunities it will bring for Norfolk’s workforce and local economy.”  “TST Fabrication and Machine’s decision to expand in Norfolk is a testament to our city’s thriving business environment and skilled workforce,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. “As a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, TST Fabrication embodies the resilience, innovation, and dedication that define our community. We are grateful for their commitment to growing in Norfolk, creating quality jobs, and strengthening our advanced manufacturing and defense sectors. This investment not only supports our economy but also honors the contributions of our veterans in both service and industry.”  “Congratulations to TST Fab & Machine on its expansion,” said Hampton Roads Alliance President and CEO Douglas L. Smith. “As a key contributor to Hampton Roads' industrial and maritime ecosystem, TST Fab & Machine strengthens the region’s advanced manufacturing and defense supply chain—sectors that are vital to national security and economic growth. The Hampton Roads Alliance is proud to support the City of Norfolk in fostering this company’s continued success and the skilled workforce that powers it."   The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Hampton Roads Alliance and the City of Norfolk to secure the project for Virginia and will support TST Fabrication and Machine’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.  The company’s headquarters are 1060 W 27th Street in Norfolk.  ###

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