Amelia Board adopts FY2027 budget, approves meals and lodging taxes and several fee changes

The Amelia County Board of Supervisors adopted its fiscal year 2027 budget at the June regular meeting and approved a package of tax and fee ordinances the board said had been factored into the budget.

Board members voted to adopt the FY2027 budget resolution following earlier work sessions and a public comment period. During debate, one supervisor expressed concern about messaging that the county was not raising taxes while budget documents included roughly $300,000 in new user‑type taxes; others noted that some tax changes were user-specific and optional for county residents.

The board opened and closed public hearings and approved a meals tax ordinance that will take effect Oct. 1; staff said projected meals-tax revenues were already built into the approved budget. One supervisor asked whether the meals-tax revenue would be dedicated to EMS and fire or flow to the general fund; staff and other members said the revenue would go into the general fund as presented.

The board also opened a public hearing and adopted a lodging (transient occupancy) tax ordinance effective Oct. 1, 2026. In discussion, staff told members that national platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically remit occupancy taxes where localities impose them, but the board debated how to register or license smaller short‑term rentals that do not use those platforms. The board asked staff to return with examples and options for a registry, licensing or permit process to improve compliance before the tax takes effect.

Separately, the board adopted ordinances raising water and sewer fees and updated animal control and environmental fee schedules (some animal fees were noted as state‑required to be set in ordinance). All discussed ordinances were adopted by voice vote as presented.

The board also approved employee bonuses as presented and confirmed there were no appropriation requests outside the adopted budget at this time.