MC supervisors grapple with ways to balance budget

What to do about boat tax discussed?

by Larry Chowning –   

During a budget work session on Tuesday, March 2, County Administrator Matt Walker provided a scenario of raising personal property taxes to balance a proposed fiscal year 2021-2022 budget.

Walker made it clear he was not making recommendations but rather providing alternatives as to how the board can fund $1.7 million in new revenues needed to balance the budget — rather than take it from the county’s “rainy day” fund balance.

He did not recommend raising the real estate tax rate. Last year, the board used fund balance monies to offset increased cost in running the county versus raising taxes. Supervisors felt the COVID-19 pandemic was creating enough havoc on taxpayers wallets.

The county administrator said that by raising personal property values by $.15, from $2.10 to $2.25, and by increasing the rate $.15 on motors and boats less than five tons it would keep the board from having to dip too deeply into the county’s fund…