Northampton Board votes to raise income limit for real estate tax exemptions

The Northampton Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday night to raise the income limit for real estate tax exemptions. They also approved the purchase of a new $341,000 ambulance, including necessary equipment, accepted a low bid from a Yorktown company to construct the Oyster fishing pier, and granted a change order to complete the Willis Wharf bulkhead project.

The board also heard budget requests from various county departments and agencies and received a presentation from Granicus, a company offering short-term rental monitoring services. No action was taken on these topics.

The household income limit for real estate tax exemptions was raised from $50,000 to $57,500, with the total net worth cap increasing from $100,000 to $115,000. Additionally, the amount excluded from a homeowner’s annual income for relatives living in the dwelling (other than a spouse) increased from $3,000 to $3,450. The maximum exemption allowed rose from $1,000 to $1,150.

At a public hearing on the tax changes, Andrew Santucci Jr., of Cheriton, was the only speaker. He stated that he would now qualify for the program under the revised limits but noted that some residents might be hesitant to participate due to privacy concerns regarding the required financial disclosures.