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New Market approves FY25‑26 budget amendment after heated public hearing on large tax increases
Summary
The Town Council approved Budget Amendment #1—after a public hearing in which residents said reassessment-driven tax increases were unprecedented—while also removing a $20,000 tourism allocation from the amendment.
The New Market Town Council on April 20 approved FY25‑26 Budget Amendment #1 following a public hearing that drew several residents objecting to the Town's decision not to adopt an equalized tax rate.
Planning staff presented the amendment, saying total revenues increased by $312,196 while total expenditures rose by $207,203 across General and Enterprise funds. Multiple residents told the Council the changes would sharply raise property tax bills; Tom "Skip" Constable said, "it isn't right for New Market to impose a 40% tax increase, due to the reassessment of properties." George Daugherty told the Council the town's "effective rate increase [was] over 45%" and urged the panel to reduce the rate.
Councilmember Peg Harkness moved to approve the amendment with the removal of a $20,000 allocation for Shenandoah County Tourism; Jon Henry seconded. The minutes record the motion as carrying on a roll‑call described in the record as 5‑0, while the listed individual votes include one Nay and one Absent, an inconsistency noted in the meeting record. Minutes state Mrs. Harkness Aye; Mr. Menhardt Nay; Mr. King Aye; Mrs. Hannah Absent; Mr. Henry Aye; Mr. Wymer Aye.
Following the vote, officials reiterated that any rollback of the tax rate would be handled through the next budget or billing cycle rather than at the amendment vote. Mayor Peter Hughes closed the public hearing after citizen comments and the Council moved on to remaining agenda items.
