Mathews supervisors decided during last week’s budget work session to advertise a real estate tax rate for next year of 64.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, an increase of 7 cents over the current year. 

On a motion made by supervisor Amy Dubois, the board split its vote, with supervisors Edwina Casey and Mike Rowe joining Dubois to support the increase and chairman G.C. Morrow and supervisor Charles Ingram voting against it.

Dubois had earlier voiced support for advertising a 10.5-cent increase, saying that she was worried a lower rate wouldn’t result in enough money for the schools, which she said are in critical condition, with teachers leaving and students not getting the education they need.

“We should publish a rate that can fund everything,” she said. “We have to have the courage to do this.” If it turned out that a lower rate would be enough, she said, “Nothing says that we have to stay with 10 cents.”

But she failed to...