Mathews supervisors, meeting last Wednesday in the historic courthouse, voted to advertise a real estate tax rate increase of 10 cents per $100 of assessed value, but emphasized their intent to lower that increase through budget cuts before adopting a budget, and scheduled another work session for 4 p.m. Monday for that purpose.
The rate increase would support both a proposed $26.27 million budget and debt service for a new fire station in downtown Mathews. The vote was 4–1, with supervisor Mike Walls dissenting.
Board members have been struggling with the knowledge that county buildings, particularly the schools but including other buildings, as well, are in various stages of disrepair after having gone without needed maintenance for many years. Staffing expenses need to be addressed, as well, with insurance costs continuing to rise and a recent compensation study showing that many county employees’ salaries are lagging well behind those in nearby localities. On top of all that, a new...