The Mathews County Board of Supervisors will have four public hearings during its regular monthly meeting at 6 o’clock tonight, April 16, in the historic courthouse on Court Street. The board will also meet earlier in the afternoon, at 4 o’clock, for a closed session. The first public hearing is on the proposed $47.68 million FY2026–2027 budget. The budget calls for an increase in the real estate tax rate of 2 cents, from $0.60 to $0.62 per $100 of assessed value, to fund the $12 million revenue bond the board of supervisors has approved to cover construction costs for the new Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Station 1, capital improvements to the schools, and other capital needs. All other tax rates would remain the same, as follows: personal property, $3.70 per $100 of assessed value; boats, $1.45 per $100; manufactured homes, campers, and other personal property, $2.14 per $100; and machinery and tools, $2.14 per $100. Under the budget, the schools would be provided with $8.5 milli...