Accomack Supervisors pass FY 26 Budget

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors met Monday and passed the proposed FY 26 budget by a vote of 7-2. Supervisors  Parks and DeGeorge voted against the proposed 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 $0.40 per pack. The personal property tax remains unchanged.

The budget includes:

• 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  in a previous meeting 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.