by Jackie Nunnery
HEATHSVILLE—In one of the toughest budget seasons in recent memory, Northumberland County supervisors on Wednesday, June 18, concluded two days worth of discussions leading to a roughly $49 million budget. There were no final numbers by the noon press deadline on Tuesday, June 24, and supervisors were expected to take action on Wednesday, June 25.
The previous draft budget of $49.1 million included a proposed $0.08 increase to the real estate tax rate—$0.74 per $100 of assessed value—as well as an increase in the personal property tax on vehicles, returning it to the pre-COVID rate of $3.60 at a 40% (currently 35%) assessment ratio of JD Power Values.
Still to be included were approximately $1.5 million in budget cuts and a reduced school budget without the 5% raises.
Although the county will shoulder increases in….
