Board debates options as Nottoway Emergency Squad reports severe shortfall; levy discussed

Board members spent an extended period addressing a fiscal emergency reported by the United Way Nottoway Emergency Squad, which described multi-hundred-thousand-dollar losses and a shift from volunteer to largely paid staffing.

Supervisors outlined options: continue payroll contributions (current practice), route county payroll through county employment (with VRS and county benefits), purchase squad property to provide liquidity, or adopt a dedicated EMS/fire tax levy under Va. Code (cited by staff) to create an earmarked revenue stream. Several supervisors emphasized the moral imperative of ensuring 911 response continues: "You dial 911, what do you want to happen? You want somebody to come get you," one supervisor said. Others expressed concern about directing large, recurring taxpayer funds to an outside nonprofit without control and urged contractual protections such as deeded assets or dissolution clauses as part of any funding agreement.

No final levy rate or full funding plan was adopted; the board asked for public input, legal review of bylaws and corporate documents for the squad, and next steps to protect service continuity.