Williamsburg Independent editor George Arbogust discusses James City County staff’s preliminary $487 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) wishlist for FY 2027–2031. At an upcoming prioritization retreat, the Board of Supervisors will decide which projects to fund, defer, or cancel.
Key Spending Drivers
The proposal is dominated by several high-cost categories:
General Administration ($124.4M): Primarily for a new Consolidated Government Center.
WJCC Schools ($101.6M): Includes a Career and Technical Center expansion and various renovations.
Public Safety ($77.6M combined): Funding for two fire stations, police facility expansions, and drone operations.
Infrastructure & Quality of Life: Significant requests for Public Works ($57.2M), Parks and Recreation ($50.4M), and the Williamsburg Regional Library ($40.5M).
The county administrator noted that the total request is unlikely to be fully funded. The Board’s next step is to categorize these requests into “must-proceed,” “conditional,” or “deferred” status based on available revenue during the FY27–FY28 budget cycle.
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