Nottoway supervisors open hearings to create countywide fire and EMS districts ahead of possible tax levies

At a meeting of the Nottoway County Board of Supervisors, members opened public hearings to establish a countywide fire district and a countywide emergency services district as prerequisites for possible future tax levies to fund fire and emergency medical services.

The hearings set the stage for a proposal that board members said would let the county levy taxes in future budget years to pay for staffing, equipment and operations for fire and EMS. Supervisor Bowen said the two ordinances are separate by attorney advice: one ordinance for fire and one for EMS, and levies, if set, would be apportioned each year as part of the county budget.

The hearings drew dozens of residents, fire chiefs and EMS providers who described rising costs, shrinking volunteer ranks and frequent high call volumes. Chief Tomer, identified as a fire chief and longtime volunteer, argued the county cannot “continue to survive” on volunteer labor alone: “A simple fire truck is almost…