Accomack Supervisors weigh tax increases to fund EMS, infrastructure in proposed FY 25/26 budget

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing Monday night on the proposed FY 25/26 county budget.

The County’s FY 2026 budget proposes moderate tax increases to support key investments in infrastructure, public services, and economic development. The real estate tax rate will rise from $0.484 to $0.534 per $100 of assessed value, and the cigarette tax will increase from $0.20 to $0.30 per pack. The personal property tax remains unchanged.

Key Highlights:

No layoffs planned; the County is understaffed and needs more employees, according to officials.
Rising health insurance and overall costs are driving the need for increased revenue.
Employee support: 3% COLA for staff, 9.3% salary increase for dispatchers, and increased insurance contributions.
Infrastructure: Funding for wastewater, housing, and a mandated comprehensive plan update.
Recreation: New senior programs and an amphitheater at Sawmill Park.
Economic development: Access road to Wallops Research Park.
Education: $314K increase, bringing the local share to $23.4M.
Capital projects: $9.5M for maintenance, vehicles, IT, and public safety.
Rainy Day Fund: $972,774 contribution.
Minimal staffing changes: Adding only 2 new positions.

County Administrator Mike Mason told the Board that the proposed real estate increase would result in an increase of $50 per one hundred thousand dollars of evaluation. Mason said that even with the increase, Accomack real estate rates rank in the lower one-third of those in other counties and cities. Mason also said that all of the revenue realized from the proposed tax increases will go directly to the EMS fund.

Speaking against the increase, Onancock resident Pedro Diaz called for a study of alternative ways to find extra funding for EMS services. Supervisor Robert Crockett requested County Administrator Mason explain the Dillon Rule, which restricts local governments from adding taxes that are not authorized by the General Assembly.

Supervisor Jeff Parks of District 4 said that when we look at the $50 per $100,000 assessment, that is not significant, but when you look at farmland, that is a considerable increase. Parks said that after polling the mayors in his district, he would prefer to spread out the proposed capital improvements over a few years to help fill the EMS gap. Parks said that we have had opportunities to address this in the past. He said that we should try to deal with structural issues of the EMS fund.

Supervisor Renita Major said that in 2022 the County expanded the EMS staff by 11 without raising taxes. Major said that the time has come to address the situation. Major said that of all the public hearings, only two people have spoken against the tax increases. “If the citizens of the County are so despondent about tax increases, where are they? Only two people showed up.”

Supervisor Crockett reminded the Board that applying one-time funding to continuing revenue needs is not smart governance. “If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you will have to continue to do this. You cannot fund recurring revenue in this manner.”