While he is enthusiastic about his new position as chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervi-sors, G. Ed Via III knows tough economic times are a harsh reality for residents.

Last Wednesday, he said – despite recommendations from citizens during a public hearing the night before to the Hanover County School Board – there are no plans to increase real estate taxes. The School Board accepted input on the proposed 2010-2011 budget.

Via said he will work “to maintain the property tax at the 81 cents per $100 it is now. People who are laid off – they just can’t afford it [an increase in taxes].”

“The board wants to remain responsive to the citizens’ concerns,” Via said. From the standpoint of the impact the economy is having on the county, he said, “We’re in this mess together.”

“Sometimes citizens don’t realize we’re people too, going through the same thing they’re going through.”

Via, who took a seat on the board as Ashland District representative in January 2008, said he wants “to work with my fellow supervisors to deal with the budget in a fair and equitable way for everybody that lives in Hanover County.

“While we hear reports that the economy is improving, and, while that’s good news, the budget reflects the impact of the current financial stress,” he said. “As chairman, I’m going to work for cohesion and collaboration as the county works toward finalizing a budget and all aspects of the budget are under review.”

A $10 million shortfall in revenues is anticipated in fiscal year projections for 2010-2011. Via said the county was looking at offsetting that shortfall “through expenditure savings and frozen positions.”

He did say that there would be no raises for employees in fiscal year 2010 and none are planned for fiscal year 2011.

With County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. and staff in the midst of the county budget process, Via said the state’s role in funding is now in the hands of new Gov. Bob McDonnell. “The new governor is going to have to decide exactly how much is going to be sent to the counties.” Former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine released his budget proposal on Dec. 18.

Via said the state’s funding is expected to decrease significant annually.

Dr. Stewart D. Roberson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, prepared the 2010-2011 budget based on an $18 million loss in revenues and 52.6 positions being cut.

He also has addressed a decline in enrollment. ““We anticipate a flat enrollment growth in the schools,” Via said, “which means we’re not going to have to build schools for the next 10 years — hopefully.”

The new chairman is optimistic about 2010, noting the construction of a $25 million roller coaster at Kings Dominion, as well as the addition of Hanover Foils and Dominion Resource Clean Technology incubator. Via said the amusement park project “should bring in some new revenue for the county.”

Two rating agencies bestowed AAA status on Hanover County in December. “We’re the smallest county in the country to obtain AAA from Fitch [Ratings],” a bond rating agency, Via said.

He also said that the financial plan implemented by Hanover County has been “nationally recognized as a prudent tool in conservatively projecting revenues.”

Last year, Via served as vice chairman to John E. Gordon Jr. He and Deborah B. Coats, Mechanicsville District, were unanimously elected as chairman and vice chairman during the Jan. 13 meeting.