Property taxes were 9% higher in FY22, which is about double the normal rate of increase. And they are on track for the same increase this year which is substantial. However, Education got an almost 12% bump last year and is budgeted for almost 8% this year, and the property tax rate was chipped down from %0.87 to %0.85, which I know is not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but I don't see Richmond or Chesterfield dropping their rates at all. And Henrico is still lower than both of them.

You can work through the previous budgets and actuals to see where the money is being spent, although only big buckets, not detail like salary vs. programming. I'm sure there is a lot of room for improvement, I know it sounds like I am defending Henrico, but it's not that so much as I have lived in all three of these areas, and I think that Henrico simply does a better job.

https://henrico.us/budget/past-approved-budgets/

Having said all that - op is smart to appeal this assessment. Something seems way off there.