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Essex County staff warn revenue likely flat as several tax lines show uncertainty
Summary
County finance staff told the Board of Supervisors that overall 2026 revenues look similar to last year, with real estate collections likely below the billed 'book,' uncertainty in public-service valuations, and modest increases proposed for penalties and some fees. No decisions were made.
County staff told the Essex County Board of Supervisors on March 4 that the county’s revenue picture for fiscal 2026 is unlikely to change dramatically from last year and that several lines remain uncertain.
Staff outlined their preliminary projections during an informational budget work session, stressing that the meeting was for discussion only and no votes were taken. The county’s real estate 'book' was cited in staff remarks as roughly in the low‑$11 million range, and staff said typical real estate collection rates historically run about 96–97 percent but that they expect actual collections to be below the billed amount this year. "Real estate values are ready, available," a revenue staff member said, adding that the county does not always collect the full booked amount.
The presentation called out areas of particular uncertainty. Public‑service valuations (utilities) are difficult to project because state rules allow utilities to report final values later in the tax cycle; staff said they used last year’s values and current collections to estimate a mid‑hundreds‑of‑thousands figure but cautioned the September reconciliation could change that projection. "This is very hard to project," a staff member said.
Staff also described preliminary personal‑property estimates and delinquency expectations. Delinquent real estate was reported at about $355,000 (up from roughly $275,000 last year); staff noted roughly $90,000 of 2023 taxes remain on the books and could be subject to land sale if unpaid by the end of the month. Delinquent personal property was projected to increase to about $220,000 from $90,000 last year, with roughly $153,000 already collected and another ~$70,000 expected.
Other line‑items the board discussed included vehicle license fees (staff projected about $410,000), business licenses (a $30 annual flat fee with projected receipts of roughly $8,000 based on historical patterns), declining dog‑tag sales (projection reduced to 6,500), and cigarette‑tax receipts, which staff said have fallen sharply from prior years. Staff recommended modest increases to penalty and interest lines based on FY25 collections and recent billing activity.
Board members pressed staff on the consumer‑utility tax, asking how the county verifies the figures it receives. Staff said the county does not independently verify the state‑provided amounts; Supervisor 2 asked a representative to follow up on whether a verification formula exists. The board also praised county finance staff for active treasury management as interest income has fallen with market rates; staff said investment earnings dropped from the higher rates earned in FY25 and projected a lower figure for the coming year.
The board concluded the revenue discussion with direction to review specific lines further in upcoming budget meetings. The presentation emphasized contingency and that transfers (including ARPA) will affect final fund balances; the session ended with no formal action taken and the board adjourning later that night.
