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Hampshire County commission sets 2025–26 levy rates, approves routine budget and administrative items
Summary
At the April 15 meeting the commission approved levy rates for the 2025–26 budget, accepted tax exonerations, closed an insolvent estate, approved a town request to use the county mass notification system, proclaimed May as Community Action Month and approved several administrative budget transfers and procurements.
Hampshire County commissioners voted on multiple budget and administrative items at their April 15 meeting in Romney, adopting the county’s 2025–26 levy rates and approving routine items that county staff said were needed to keep operations on track.
The commission approved the regular current expense levy using the rollback rate for Class 1 property at 14.03¢ per $100 of assessed value; Class 2 at 28.06¢; and classes 3 and 4 at 56.12¢ per $100. Fire and library excess levy rates were also set as explained at the hearing. President Brian Englanger opened a public hearing and, after no public comments, the commission voted to lay the levy as presented. "The commission voted in our last meeting to submit a budget based on the rollback rate of 14.03 for class 1 property," Clerk Scribe reported during the hearing.
Votes at a glance - Lay levy for 2025–26 budget (levy rates as described above): Motion moved and seconded on record; outcome: passed by unanimous voice vote. (Provenance: hearing opened and closed; clerk presented State Auditor approval.) - Approve assessor tax exemptions: Motion passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved. (Clerk presented list from the assessor.) - Approve exonerations for ambulance bills submitted by HCSA: Motion passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Close the estate of Max Voigt (insolvent claim of $1,922.33): Motion passed by voice vote. Outcome: closed; clerk reported certified mail was returned and claimant did not respond. - Allow the Town of Capenbridge to use the county Everbridge/HSEM mass-notification system: Motion passed; Commissioner Mance abstained and the chair noted his disclosed relationship with the town’s outside counsel. - Proclamation: designating May as Community Action Month (Eastern Action / Community Action Partnership): Motion passed by voice vote; President Englanger signed the proclamation. - HCSA emergency management budget reallocation: Transfer of $6,500 (reallocated from travel and maintenance line items to materials/supplies for gas detection meters for the regional hazardous materials unit): Motion passed by voice vote. - Authorize bid solicitation for restroom/plumbing upgrades at Capenbridge (development authority project): Motion passed to solicit bids; commissioners requested the public bid opening be scheduled, noticed and held so bids are publicly opened and then evaluated outside a commission meeting. - Roof replacement at former school / Day Report building: discussion held; commissioners agreed to pause the roof procurement until demolition and site coordination questions with the school board and development authority are resolved; no bid authorization was issued.
Several measures were moved and seconded during the meeting and carried by voice vote; recorded tallies with named yeas/nays were not provided in the minutes except where abstentions were stated on the record. The commission also approved routine invoices and adjourned.
Ending: County staff will carry out the administrative steps required by the approved votes (publish levy order, execute budget transfers, notice bid openings), and commissioners said they expect further follow-up at future meetings.
