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Board adopts budget option that raises real-estate rate by 0.5¢, preserves public-safety hires
Summary
The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors adopted a budget option that reduces the proposed real-estate tax increase, funds several public-safety hires and funds a clerk-of-court position, while keeping the machinery-and-tools tax unchanged.
Isle of Wight supervisors voted to adopt a budget option that trims the originally proposed real-estate tax increase and preserves several public-safety positions while keeping the machinery-and-tools (M&T) tax rate unchanged.
County staff presented updated revenue estimates during the meeting, including a higher sales-tax projection, an $84,000 upward revision to real-estate tax revenue and a small upward revision to machinery-and-tools receipts. Staff also reported a state-funded partial position for the clerk of court that would require the county to add roughly $38,000 to fully fund the new position and its benefits.
After reviewing six options, the board voted to move forward with an option (presented as “Option 1”) that reduced the proposed real-estate increase to 4.5 cents (instead of the earlier 5-cent proposal), did not raise the M&T rate, funded the clerk-of-court position and kept previously requested sheriff and fire‑rescue positions. That package required approximately $129,000 in departmental reductions rather than deeper cuts suggested in alternative options.
Supervisor Acree moved to adopt the option and the motion passed with an affirmative roll call. The board also adopted its capital improvement program (CIP) and later took action on the advertised tax ordinance: after discussion the board adopted a tax-rate ordinance setting the real-estate rate at 77.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and the machinery-and-tools rate at $1.95 per $100.
Board members discussed long-term revenue pressures, including an expected 2026–27 reduction in machinery-and-tools tax revenue tied to local manufacturing changes and the need to pursue economic development and grant opportunities to diversify the county tax base. Staff said the county is continuing to monitor sales-tax receipts (staff reported a year‑to‑date increase) and will return to the board with any necessary budget adjustments.
Why it matters: The adopted package funds public-safety positions that the board prioritized while limiting the residential tax increase and avoiding a machinery-and-tools rate hike; staff must manage carryover risks and a known future M&T revenue decline from manufacturing changes.
