Editing Rappahannock County, Virginia (section)

== Government ==
Like many counties in Virginia, Rappahannock County is governed by a Board of Supervisors who serve staggered 4-year terms. Voters in each of the five districts of the county elect one member of the Board; the chair of the Board is chosen by the five supervisors. The Board handles policy issues, sets the budget, and appoints a county administrator to handle the county government's day-to-day operations.

Over the years, the Board of Supervisors of Rappahannock County has kept a tight rein on spending. In fiscal year July 2020-June 2021, the county government budget was $26.6 million, of which 50% was designated for education of students in the two public schools. Other expenditure categories included 10.7% for county government expenses, 9.5% for public safety, 5.5% for fire and emergency medical services, 2.4% for refuse disposal, 1.4% for the public library, and 0.1% for parks and recreation. Some of the county's expenses were supplemented by state, federal, and grant funding.

Taxes on real estate ($13.3 million) and personal property ($1.4 million) comprised 55% of county revenues in 2020–2021. The absence of a commercial tax base has resulted in high taxes for homeowners. The county does not have manufacturing, large box stores, and other similar commercial establishments and hence has a commercial tax base of only about $700,000.<ref>Rappahannock County, Virginia, budget for Fiscal Year 2021</ref>

===Board of Supervisors===
* Debbie Donehey – Chair (Wakefield District)
* Christine Smith – (Piedmont District)
* Van Carney – (Stonewall-Hawthorne District)
* Keir Whitson – Vice-Chair (Hampton District)
* Donna Comer – (Jackson District)

===Politics===
Rappahannock County invariably leans toward the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], doing so every election since 1980. However, parts of Sperryville are quite culturally liberal.
{{PresHead|place=Rappahannock County, Virginia|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave "Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections"] by David Leip. Accessed on December 8, 2020.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,943|2,041|81|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,812|2,096|70|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,539|1,747|197|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,311|1,980|66|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,227|2,105|73|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,172|1,837|41|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,850|1,462|201|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,505|1,405|271|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,410|1,273|498|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,657|1,003|26|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,696|999|12|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,179|1,055|133|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|881|1,071|29|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,055|471|21|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|594|394|375|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|449|675|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|426|544|5|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|514|523|38|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|619|518|2|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|311|617|106|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|297|497|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|225|588|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|241|686|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|124|590|6|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|329|513|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|89|395|21|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|210|418|2|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|84|401|7|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|94|356|24|Virginia}}