HEATHSVILLE—Overflowing the courtroom, residents of Northumberland County gathered at a Thursday, June 1, public hearing with the board of supervisors to voice opposition to a proposed $53.5 million budget, based on a 23% real estate tax rate hike, and called for more transparency in the budgeting process.
Robert Haus of Reedville questioned the need for a budget of more than $50 million when there are just 12,000 residents. “That’s a little under $5,000 per resident that you’re spending and I’m not sure we’re getting good value for that money,” he said.
With roughly a $2.5 million increase for both the schools and the county, “you can’t play the blame game,” he said.
Haus suggested the proposed $0.14 rate increase is “a ploy for you to get the $0.07 that you have talked about….
