The Mathews County Board of Supervisors took several formal actions Tuesday. Key votes included adoption of the fiscal year 2026 appropriation resolution, a vote to exclude the county administrator from the general staff pay increase pending an annual performance review, approval of routine consent items, and referrals on land-use questions.

Budget appropriation
The board adopted the FY 2026 budget appropriation resolution based on an authorized real-estate tax-rate increase of four cents (from $0.56 to $0.60 per $100 of assessed value). The resolution appropriates funds totaling $36,356,365 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Supervisor Bowen — Aye; Supervisor Walls — Aye; Supervisor Phillips — Aye; Supervisor Jones — Nay; Supervisor Dawes — Aye.

County administrator pay increase
Separately, the board approved a motion that the pay increase for county employees in the FY2026 budget shall not apply to the county administrator. Any increase for the county administrator will be determined during the administrator’s annual performance evaluation. The roll-call vote on that motion was recorded as: Supervisor Cohen — Aye; Supervisor Walls — Aye; Supervisor Phillips — Aye; Supervisor Jones — Aye; Supervisor Dawes — Aye.

Referrals and public hearings
- Text amendment 2025000046 (solar farms): After a public hearing and board discussion about broad language and legal exposure, the board voted 4–1 to refer the amendment back to staff and the county attorney for reworking (Supervisor Walls voted Nay). The amendment would, if adopted, exclude ground-mounted solar farms from the county’s definition of a "major utility use." This referral does not adopt the change; staff will return a revised draft.

- South Bay Haven parcel (park): Following extended public comment, the board voted unanimously to refer the prior action on the South Bay Haven parcel back to the planning commission and to require a planning commission public hearing on whether a public facility at that location is in substantial accord with the comprehensive plan. The board emphasized no funds were appropriated at this meeting and said it will not begin development until public input and planning commission recommendations are received.

Other routine items
- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda as presented (unanimous vote recorded by voice). The consent agenda included items listed in the meeting packet (noted as approved; details in official minutes).

- Appointments: The board approved appointments to local boards, including reappointment of a candidate to the Department of Social Services and confirmation of a Library Board appointment (motion passed by voice vote).

- Lease and ordinance referrals: The board adopted a resolution to refer a request from the Mathews County Historical Society for a long-term lease of Thompson’s Cottage to a public hearing, and also referred an ordinance to the planning commission that would exempt certain county-owned actions from zoning and subdivision requirements for review (the latter referral produced a mixed roll-call vote; see minutes for tally). The board instructed staff to follow appropriate advertisement and hearing procedures.

The board ended the meeting by entering closed session on specified personnel and legal topics; no further public actions were taken before adjournment.