The Mathews County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to deny requests by the Mathews County Volunteer Fire Department and the Mathews County Volunteer Rescue Squad that they be allowed to draw funds from the meals tax revenue at this time.

Supervisor O.J. Cole made a motion to allocate $40,000 to the fire department to help with a new building planned for Bohannon and $20,000 to the rescue squad to help pay for equipment. He said that the meals tax had been approved by voters for capital improvements and asked “what better time?”

Board chairman Jack White said the fund had been created specifically to support such purchases.

However, supervisor Charles Ingram said that, while he had no objection to giving money to the fire department and rescue squad if they needed something, the board should wait until the new budget is negotiated in the spring.

White argued that the fire department is starting its capital campaign, and that “this is precisely what the money is ...