Northampton Admin updates Board on school funding, housing, infrastructure and future budget planning

Northampton County Administrator Matt Spuck provided the Board of Supervisors with a wide-ranging update Tuesday, covering topics that included school construction funding, affordable housing, fire and EMS equipment needs, transportation improvements, and early planning for the county’s next budget.

Spuck said the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC) has requested legislative priorities for Fiscal Year 2027. He recommended the Board place the matter on its Aug. 12 agenda to allow sufficient time to submit Northampton County’s priorities for consideration.

School Construction Funding Strategy

Spuck said county staff continues to work closely with Northampton County Public Schools on the financial strategy for the school construction project.

He told supervisors there is a possibility the project will require additional funding, although the exact amount has not yet been determined.

“We’re going to prepare a unified presentation for you and for the School Board so that we’re both coming at it with exactly the same numbers,” Spuck said, adding that both boards will receive the same financial information before any decisions are made.

Housing Outreach Tailored to Individual Towns

Spuck also updated the Board on meetings he recently held with town managers and mayors following the Board’s direction to improve communication regarding housing issues.

Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, he said each municipality is developing a communication strategy that best fits its residents.

Eastville has indicated that a single, well-publicized town hall meeting would be sufficient, while Cape Charles may use a model similar to the public outreach process it used during discussions about its beach project.

Meanwhile, Cheriton officials expressed concern about low public participation and are considering how to better engage residents.

Spuck said the discussions are focused solely on identifying housing needs and improving public engagement—not on specific housing developments or zoning amendments.

Opportunity Zones Could Bring Housing Incentives

Spuck introduced supervisors to changes involving federally designated Opportunity Zones.

Northampton County currently has two Opportunity Zones, generally covering the area from Cheriton northward in two census tracts. In the past, the designation was automatic and primarily served as a label for potential investment incentives.

However, under new federal rules, governors must nominate only 25 percent of eligible census tracts for Opportunity Zone status. Virginia has 607 eligible census tracts, but only about 152 can be nominated.

If Northampton seeks nomination, the designation could make projects eligible for Opportunity Fund investments and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

Spuck said the Board will need to decide next month whether it wants the county to pursue the designation before nominations are due to the governor by late September.

Supervisors asked for additional information about how the program would work before making a decision.

Cape Charles Sewer Study Underway

Spuck said he recently met with representatives of Virginia American Water, the Town of Cape Charles, Atlantic Group and Royal Farms to discuss the possibility of extending sewer service to the Route 13 corridor.

A private entity will fund the engineering study, meaning there will be no cost to county taxpayers.

Royal Farms has expressed interest in locating along the corridor, and one option under consideration is connecting to the county’s Bayview wastewater treatment plant instead of constructing a multimillion-dollar sewer line.

County officials have already met with the Virginia Department of Health to determine whether the concept is feasible.

Fire Departments Face $20 Million in Apparatus Needs

Following meetings with local volunteer fire departments, Spuck said the county has identified approximately $20 million in fire apparatus replacement needs over the next decade.

Although the county is not legally obligated to purchase equipment for volunteer departments, Spuck said the rising cost of apparatus makes the issue difficult for local departments to address on their own.

He noted that replacing a ladder truck now costs about $3 million, while Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company is preparing to purchase a new rescue truck at an estimated cost of $900,000.

The recent Cape Charles fire highlighted the importance of ensuring departments have reliable equipment, he said, adding that the county needs to begin discussing how it might help support future apparatus purchases.

Parallel Road Improvements Being Studied

The county has completed a survey of Parallel Road, providing officials with detailed information on property ownership and right-of-way boundaries.

Spuck said county staff will now work with VDOT and consultants to determine what improvements can be made to improve safety while discouraging motorists from parking along U.S. Route 13.

He noted that a previous engineering estimate put the cost of upgrading Parallel Road to full secondary road standards at approximately $5 million, but officials hope less expensive alternatives may be available.

Tire Amnesty Program Proposed

Spuck also asked for feedback on pursuing a state grant to establish a temporary tire amnesty program.

The proposal would allow residents and farmers to dispose of old tires at no charge during a limited period.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality offers competitive grant funding for such programs, and supervisors voiced support for pursuing the grant application.

“Northampton Nook” Housing Project Continues

Planning also continues for the proposed “Northampton Nook” workforce housing project intended for educators.

Spuck said engineers are evaluating whether the site can provide an adequate drinking water supply and determining the best wastewater solution.

The preferred option would connect the project to the new wastewater system being constructed near the county administration building, although available capacity remains under review.

Spuck said staff is also evaluating alternative locations should utility challenges prevent development at the current site.

Early Look at Next Year’s Budget

Finally, Spuck told supervisors county staff has already begun preparing preliminary projections for the Fiscal Year 2028 budget.

Because state salary increases have already been established through the governor’s biennial budget and no countywide reassessment is scheduled next year, he said officials can begin forecasting the budget well in advance.

Spuck said providing supervisors with an early overview will allow more time to review, discuss and adjust spending priorities before the formal budget process begins early next year.