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Board sends FY26 draft budget to public hearing, proposes 5-cent real estate tax increase dedicated to EMS and approves purchase of two ambulances
Summary
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted to send the FY26 draft budget to public hearing for March 24 and approved appropriating $300,000 from fund balance to buy two ambulances from Watts Creek Volunteer Fire Department; the board also directed negotiations for facility use and ambulance billing services.
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted on Feb. 26 to send the FY26 draft budget to public hearing and approved immediate actions to sustain emergency medical services (EMS) coverage.
Board members set a March 24 public hearing at 6 p.m. in Mappomptkin (Matompkin) to receive public comment on the draft budget and associated tax rates. County staff said the draft includes a proposed 5-cent increase in the real-estate tax rate dedicated 100% to the EMS fund; it also proposes raising the cigarette tax from 20¢ to 40¢ per pack. County staff explained the real-estate tax increase is intended solely to eliminate a projected EMS fund deficit.
County staff reported EMS expenditures are projected to exceed EMS fund revenues by approximately $2.3 million for the current year; drawing fund balance could reduce the reserve to about $794,000 but would not address the structural gap going forward. Staff said one cent of the county’s EMS real-estate tax generates roughly $417,000 to $500,000 depending on the tax base; the board was told the 5-cent increase would eliminate the projected shortfall.
On the same agenda the board approved a staff recommendation to appropriate $300,000 from the 2024 general fund balance to purchase two ambulances from the Watts Creek Volunteer Fire Department. Staff reported independent appraisals placed the vehicles’ value, excluding installed equipment, at about $279,000 and that the seller was offering both ambulances for $300,000; the county considered that price fair given installed equipment. The board directed the county administrator to draft a sales contract and to negotiate a lease for county use of Painter Volunteer Fire Department facilities at $4,000 per month, including utilities and space for the equipment. The board also directed staff to secure ambulance billing services from the Emergency Ambulance Services Revenue Recovery Board (staffed by the Northern Neck PDC).
Motion and voting: The board adopted the motions to appropriate funds, draft the sales contract, continue lease negotiations with Painter Volunteer Fire Department, and request ambulance billing services. The motions passed on voice votes with all present members answering in the affirmative.
Board members emphasized that EMS personnel are the major cost driver in the EMS budget — staff told the board about a 92% personnel share of EMS expenses — and that without additional revenue the county would need to reduce staff or otherwise change service levels. Several supervisors said they prefer using one-time funds only when necessary and cautioned that delaying a tax increase would only shift the deficit into a future fiscal year.
