During the presentation of her budget at last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, County Administrator Rebecca Dickson pointed out that there are several proposed plans up for consideration right now, including the county general fund proposed budget, the proposed capital investment program, the school board’s approved budget, financial policies and tax rate structures.

“Every plan, every financial proposal is interconnected and linked—there are a number of hot air balloons in the air right now and they all have to come down April 6,” Dickson said.

Right now, those balloons are still waiting to see how far the wind will take them.

But if recent comments at budget meetings are any indication, Goochland’s citizens hope to have a say in which direction the county will go.

“I’ve never seen people so engaged,” said District 5 Supervisor James W. Eads, after several people stood up to discuss the school budget and the county’s tax rate.

Dickson asked the supervisors to begin advertising possible changes in the real estate tax rate, and in utility taxes and fees.

The budget process this year, whether for the federal, state or county governments, has been a tumultuous one.

It is often here, at the county level where citizens can affect real change, because it is here where they can be heard.

When Karen Myrick of Maidens says, as she did to the supervisors last week, “The tax rate should increase, and four cents makes sense,” she can do so directly to those who represent her.

And she can do so to her friends, neighbors and colleagues.

If you don’t know whether you support a tax increase, but you also don’t support cutting a classroom teacher or a sheriff’s deputy, listening to your peers discuss the issues can provide perspective.

Whether you are the one talking or the one listening, you are part of the process.

This is the kind of power that should not be taken for granted.

And this is the kind of power, the sort of might, that is a citizen’s responsibility to wield.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the budget, tax rates, utility rates and ordinance changes on March 30.