Northumberland supervisors vote to advertise a 57¢ tax rate, set public hearings for May 28 and June 4

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted 5–0 on May 12 to advertise a 57-cent tax rate as part of the FY27 budget process and to hold a public hearing on the budget at 6:00 p.m. on May 28, 2026 and a separate hearing on any tax-rate adjustment at 6:00 p.m. on June 4, 2026. The motion to advertise the hearings was moved by Vice Chairman Chip Williams and seconded by Supervisor James Long; the roll call vote was unanimous.

County Administrator E. Luttrell Tadlock told the Board that tax-rate scenarios under consideration range from 47 cents to 57 cents and that "with a 55 cent tax rate and the potential cuts that have been identified, this would cover the 20% recommendation in the unassigned fund balance, as well as the 2% in the budget stabilization fund." Tadlock warned that several cost drivers are increasing, including Virginia Retirement System multipliers for hazardous-duty employees, a new county administration position, IT maintenance and repairs, Emergency Services overtime, and a $289,000 planned increase for waste management that includes costs for MXI hazardous household-collection events.

The Board also directed staff to advertise the hearings and scheduled a follow-up budget work session for May 19, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to invite departments and agencies to present their budgets. Chairman James W. Brann asked Tadlock to contact Dr. Leslie about moving the Joint Finance Committee meeting on June 4 to 5:00 p.m. so it would not conflict with the 6:00 p.m. public hearing.

No final tax-rate increase was adopted; advertising the 57¢ rate preserves the Board's ability to lower the rate before adoption but would require re-advertising to raise it above that level.