Challenging Times Nottoway officials have had their hands full in recent months and, for the second year in a row, are proposing tax increases on Real Estate and Personal Property. Much of the Board’s recent discussions have focused on preparing to provide more funds for EMS and fire. ABOVE: District 1 Supervisor Dicky Ingram. BELOW: Nottoway Emergency Services Coordinator Buddy Hyde, Board Chairman Bill Collins, Supervisor Daphne Norton, and Supervisor Bo Toth. Supervisor John Roark, who suffered a stroke in February, has been attending meetings virtually while he recovers.
NEW LEVIES PROPOSED FOR EMS & FIRE
Nottoway County land owners would see a 22% increase in their taxes, and those who own vehicles would see a 27% hike if the County’s proposed budget is apdopted as advertised in today’s Courier-Record (page 11) and Crewe-Burkeville Journal.
A public hearing on the proposed $59.2 million budget is set for Thursday, May 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. in the General District Courtroom.
The proposed tax hikes come on the heels of 20% increases last year on Real Estate — after reassessment that saw land values increase on average by 30% countywide — and 19% increases on Personal Property.
Supervisors have scheduled Thursday, May 29th as the date for “possible adoption” of a 2025-26 budget.
REAL ESTATE
Supervisors this year are proposing to raise the tax rate on Real Estate from 45¢ per $100 valuation to 48¢.
Supervisors also are proposing two new separate taxes on Real Estate — one specificially for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which would be 5¢ per $100 valuation; and Fire services, which would be 2¢ per $100 valuation.
Overall on real estate, Nottoway residents would go from paying 45¢ per $100 to a total of 55¢ per $100. That 10¢ increase equates to 22% more for landowners.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Supervisors propose to raise the Personal Property tax rate from $3.75 per $100 valuation to $4.12.
They’re also proposing two new separate taxes on Personal Property — one specificially for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which would be 45¢ per $100 valuation; and Fire services, which would be 18¢ per $100 valuation
Overall on Personal Property, Nottoway residents would go from paying $3.75 per $100 to a total of $4.75 per $100. That $1.00 increase equates to 27% more for vehicle owners.
RAIDING RESERVES
In balancing the budget, Supervisors are also proposing to take $895,672 from reserves — some of which are earning 4% interest. Supervisors in the current fiscal year raided reserves by $1.6 million.
EMS & FIRE
Supervisors are proposing the new levies for fire and rescue due to declining volunteers, particulary with Nottoway Emergency Squad, which has only one dedicated ambulance during the day for Nottoway 911 calls. Supervisors are planning to possibly use the new levies to staff three ambulances — one in each town. Each would cost about $750,000 per year. The new levies for EMS and fire would generate about $1,473,500. Supervisors are considering a variety of approaches to
address the EMS crisis. About 95% of those serving Nottoway Emergency Squad today are now paid personnel, and the organization continues to run more than 2,000 calls annually.
The next budget year begins July 1st..
Tax payments generally don’t begin arriving until after tax bills are mailed in October. That means the County would have to bankroll EMS with reserves prior to receiving tax revenue in the Fall.
Supervisors are dealing with a “perfect storm” of financial challenges — a $2.1 million new animal shelter, a $7 million public radio system, and a judge’s order to provide more secure court facilities that could cost anywhere from $15 million to $20 million or more.
The need for more revenue has encouraged Supervisors — all five of whom at one time strongly opposed industrial solar sites — to make the County’s solar ordinance less restrictive.
Supervisor Dicky Ingram cast the lone dissenting vote in April.
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