Accomack County’s tax payers to pay more real estate tax

Accomack County, which was the former Accomack Shire, is a U.S. county and is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is Accomack and Accomack and Northampton Counties comprise the Eastern Shore of Virginia, part of the Delmarva Peninsula. It has been leant that the tax payers of the county will pay 7 cents more tax per $100 of value on their real estate next year and 45 cents more per $100 for personal property taxes on the other hand. The Accomack County Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year 2010 budget of $50 million this month, including the tax increase, by a 5-4 vote.

The main initiative was taken by supervisor Phil McCaleb who at the outset made a motion to increase the real estate tax by 8 cents. What was the main reason? According to Phil, the board needs to act as statesmen, with concern for the next generation, rather than as politicians, with an eye toward the next election. However he was the same person who later agreed to a friendly amendment from Chairman Steve Mallette to reduce the increase to 7 cents. Was not there any detractor? Well, there were and Donald Hart Jr., Laura Belle Gordy, Sandy Hart Mears and Wanda Thornton were found to vote against the budget.

There was also the inclusion of an agreement to dedicate 1 penny of the real estate tax hike, an estimated $365,000, toward refilling the county’s rainy-day fund, even though county attorney Mark Taylor said the policy is not legally binding on the board. It should be noted that two cents of the increase is for the consolidated emergency medical services fund, and 2 cents is for school debt service.

Let’s look at the real estate tax rates in 2010. The 2010 real estate tax rates for each district are: Atlantic and Pungoteague, 43 cents; Metompkin and Lee, 42 cents; Captain’s Cove, 45 cents; and Chincoteague 35 cents. Property tax rates are: Atlantic and Captain’s Cove, $3.75; Metompkin, Lee and Pungoteague, $3.72; and Chincoteague, $3.58.

What will be the result of change? The change will cost each employee on average $78 per month and saves the county $260,000.