BY JANET BERNOSKY, Eastern Shore Post
A concerned Accomack County resident spoke up at a public hearing about a proposed 5 cent property tax increase meant to address an EMS fund imbalance during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, April 7.
This public hearing, per Virginia Code, was separate from another public hearing about the county’s proposed FY2026 budget of just under $90 million.
“I want to preface my comments by saying that nothing I am about to say should be construed as disparaging,” said Pedro Baez, an Onancock resident, regarding EMS services.
Baez continued that he was opposed to the manner in which the EMS shortfall was being addressed by increasing property taxes.
Baez said the tax hike was a “stop gap measure,” in his opinion, and that the imbalance is not sustainable because it’s linked exclusively to revenues from property and personal property taxes. He added it would likely lead to another tax increase down the road.
He stated that the supervisors should consider the recommendation by supervisor Jeffrey Parks to use money from the general fund or the cigarette tax to address the imbalance.
Baez also proposed using money from the county’s rainy day fund as an option.
The county is working to build this fund up with an almost $1 million contribution in fiscal year 2026. The fund won’t be where it needs to be until 2031, according to county administrator Mike Mason.
Baez’s wife, Amy Silva, also signed up to also speak, but later declined.
Vice Chair Reneta Major commented that only two residents had signed up to speak “out of 33,000.”
While she understood that Monday’s weather was detrimental to traveling, she added that residents could make their opinions known to the supervisors by other means.
Parks, who commented that he strongly supports the county’s EMS services, said he sought the opinions of the mayors and fire chiefs in his district, adding that none supported the tax increase.
His district covers Parksley, Bloxom, Saxis, and Hallwood, he said.
The supervisors will face this again in 2027 and they have an obligation to deal with the EMS fund’s structural issues, Parks said.
Supervisor Robert Crockett likened using money from the general fund, specifically from a future wastewater project in the northern end of the county as suggested by Parks, to “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
He cautioned that in 2027, the county would need to address the EMS fund imbalance while also plugging the hole created in the general fund, if they chose this route.
“Let’s deal with the facts here,” said Crockett. “Budgeting 101 will tell you to never use one-time funds for recurring expenses.”
Crockett warned again that the county will be facing layoffs of approximately 20 members of the EMS staff if the imbalance is not dealt with.
