By a 5-0 vote, Mathews Board of Supervisors quickly approved the county’s 2012-2013 budget and 2012 tax rates during a short meeting before only two residents Monday night.

The $23.7 million budget includes $7.8 million for general operational expenses, $12.4 million for schools, $1.2 million for the Department of Social Services, $.5 million for the comprehensive services act, and $.6 million in debt service.

There is a salary increase included for county employees and school personnel and a bonus for employees in the constitutional offices and the sheriff’s office. Because state law requires Virginia Retirement System employees to pay a 5 percent share for their retirement beginning in July, the county included an additional salary increase of 5.75 percent to cover that cost as well as increased payroll taxes and other associated deductions.

According to a letter from former county administrator Steve Whiteway, the budget, which he prepared, is somewhat inflated because of approximately $.9 million in federal and state funds for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, but the program requires no expenditure of local money.

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