BY JIMMY SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
Northampton County’s proposed 2026 real estate tax rate increase was met with backlash from the public and members of the board of supervisors alike at a public hearing for the proposed rate.
The 2025 rate was 70.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, after a real estate reassessment, a state-mandated equalized rate to offset higher property values brought the rate down to about 67 cents per $100 of assessed value.
To balance its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the county is proposing raising the tax rate to 69.95 cents.
One penny of real estate tax increase for the county results in about $365,000 of revenue for the county.
Paul Grossman, a Cape Charles Town Council member, spoke at the hearing and said the 2027 budget has not been finalized yet. It should be finalized before an increased tax rate is proposed, he said.
“The process I don’t like because you haven’t settled on amongst yourselves what the budget is in order to determine what an appropriate tax rate should be,” he said.
“That was correctly stated, Mr. Grossman,” said board of supervisors Chairman Dixon Leatherbury, acknowledging his concerns.
The FY27 budget will need to be approved before the new fiscal year begins July 1.
Approving a new tax rate follows the approval of the budget.
The board was hesitant to adopt the proposed rate but did vote to approve the equalized tax rate.
“I don’t want to see us taxing folks out of what they own,” said Vice Chairman Oliver Bennett, who also expressed concern over people inheriting real estate and then having to sell it because of not being able to afford taxes on the property.
Bennett also said that since reassessments take place once every two years, consistent increases would likely force people out of the county.
Supervisors Betsy Mapp and Ernest Smith mentioned many in the county are retired and living on a fixed income.
They would have to pay more taxes, taking away from other needed expenditures.
Across the entire county, average total real estate value increased by 8.8%, with some areas exceeding a 12% increase.
Prior to the reassessments, the median home valuation in Northampton County was $178,000. Now the median is $193,664.
The median Northampton County homeowner would have to pay about $100 more in real estate taxes under the proposed 69.95 cent rate.
The highest jump in assessed values was in Belle Haven, which saw a 14% jump.
Other significant increases included a 12.67% increase in Cheriton and 11% increases in both Franktown and Eastville.
The reassessment saw no areas decrease in assessed value.
