BY SARAH BARBAN, Eastern Shore Post
Onancock Town Manager Matt Spuck presented a preliminary budget to the town council that includes funding for a fifth police officer and a cost-of-living pay increase for town staff.
To fund those items the town would have to increase real estate property taxes from 24.2 cents per $100 of assessed value to 25.3 cents, increase personal property tax on passenger vehicles from $1.75 to $1.80 per $100 in valuation, and increase personal property tax on non-vehicles from $2.10 to $2.29.The water rate would also increase by 3%.
The budget will be discussed again at a special meeting on April 14, at 7 p.m., in the town council chambers.
Overtime pay reduced
Onancock police officers were being scheduled so that there were two to three officers working per shift for every national holiday. Officers did this so that they could receive double-time pay, Spuck said.
He requested that the Police Chief Eric Williams only schedule the normal number of officers for shifts on holidays to reduce overtime pay.
Onancock school study
An architect conducted an assessment of the Historic Onancock School building on Wednesday, March 19.
The architect estimated that an engineering study of the school would cost between $30,000 and $60,000, Spuck said. An official quote is anticipated, according to Spuck.
Murals coming
Two new murals will be added to downtown Onancock.
One mural will be painted on the east-facing side of Woody’s Auto Service and one will be painted on the east-facing side of Market Street Grill.
Water leaks
Several leaks and the connection of three homes near the corner of Hill Street and Liberty Street have required digging up sections of road in town.
The town has exceeded its budget for road work.
Spuck requested that $15,000 in utility reserves be used to repave those sections of road. The request was unanimously approved by the town council.
Meals tax in arrears
The town council gave Spuck permission to file a warrant in debt for a restaurant that hasn’t paid its meals tax for roughly a year.
A warrant in debt is essentially the town suing the business owner for the taxes they owe, Spuck said.
The action was unanimously approved by the council.
Break-in perps arrested
Four people were charged in connection with recent vehicle break-ins in Onancock.
Those arrested were part of two separate groups that had been breaking in to cars.
Williams declined to identify those who had been arrested because some of those involved were juveniles.
The security cameras the town installed did not play a role in catching those who were charged, Williams said.
