Back-to-back board meetings were held in Mathews this week so members could work on prioritizing items in the county’s 2025-2026 budget.

Mathews supervisors held a meeting on Monday to hear requests for funds from outside agencies, while the planning commission met on Tuesday to discuss the proposed Capital Improvement Plan.

Representatives from 20 agencies and organizations laid out their needs to the board of supervisors, appealing for funding for everything from juvenile detention to children’s camps. Some of the agencies asked for level funding, while others sought to increase the support they receive from the county.

The largest requested increase came from the Merrimac Juvenile Detention Center, which requested $16,357 last year, but is seeking $58,437 this year. Mathews County Administrator Ramona Wilson, who represents Mathews on the center’s board, said the reason for the increase was that Mathews is detaining more juveniles for minor infractions.

Mathews Social Services Director Tiffany Gordon requested an additional $20,489 in local funding, to bring Mathews County’s contribution to $812,529.52. She cited increases in children’s services, school placements outside the county, and legal fees.

Mathews Market Days Committee Chair Jennifer Roahrig requested an additional $5,000 on top of the $5,000 the county has traditionally provided the festival each year. She said that, in addition to law enforcement costs, the festival committee needs to replace outdated signs and purchase its own tents instead of renting them. She said the committee would like to hire a regional band this year and needs funds to support the children’s area, which was provided last year free of charge. The committee raised $7,000 for last year’s festival, and it all went back into the event, she said.

Rural Housing Partnership representative Julia Gayle said the Gloucester-based organization has done a little work in Mathews because of donations it has received, but has never asked the county for funding. She requested $5,000 to support the organization’s efforts to provide home repairs to help keep mostly elderly clients in their homes.

Bay School Community Arts Center Chair Sherri Hamm requested that the county increase the Bay School’s funding from $5,500 to $10,000.

4-H Extension Agent Rachael Morris requested a 4.7 percent increase in funding ($2,238) to help with increasing costs for personnel, youth programs, and camp fees. Extension’s total local budget last year was $47,568.

VA250 Committee member Joe Syslo said the committee is seeking $10,000, an increase of $6,000 over last year’s funding, to partially pay for the county’s participation in the 250th anniversary of the United States. He outlined plans for a production of “Crickets on a Hill” at a cost of $20,000, as well as concerts, a smartphone app for tourism, reenactments by the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, and Love Works signs.

Syslo also represented the Mathews Economic Development Authority, asking for $10,000 to support the EDA’s efforts to help develop the local and regional economy by providing revolving loans for businesses and nonprofits.

Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic Director Arlene Armentor asked for a $2,000 increase, from $8,000 to $10,000, citing a 54 percent increase in Mathews patients, a 31 percent increase in the number of Mathews residents’ visits, and a 21 increase in the number of prescriptions written for Mathews residents.

Bay Aging Transit Director Ken Pollock requested a 3 percent increase in funding of $1,351 over last year’s support from the county of $45,029, citing operating costs that “continue to skyrocket.”

Mathews Little League president William Ripley asked the board for an additional $747.50 over last year’s funding of $7,475 to help maintain the facilities and improve the infrastructure at the Little League field.

Bay Aging CFO Tinsley Goad requested an increase of 3 percent in the agency’s aging services and Section 8 voucher program, bringing the county’s contribution up to $15,186 and $4,069, respectively, for the more than 2,100 Mathews residents who receive services. He said the county’s funds are leveraged to allow access to state and federal funds for the services it provides.

Civil War Trails representative Drew Gruber requested $2,000, a 25 percent increase over last year’s $1,600, for maintaining dual-leg Civil War signs in the county, at a cost of $250 per sign. He said the signs “drive people to Mathews County to spend money.”

Mathews Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission chair Nick Koch requested $305 for prizes and refreshments for the Port Fun Family Fun Day.

Both Mathews Volunteer Fire Department and Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad are asking for level funding this year, with MVFD President Donnie Lewis requesting $250,000 and MVRS President Scott Bergman asking for the same amount it received year before last, $500,000. Bergman explained that the squad had asked for level funding last year, but had taken “a bit of a hit,” which just “kicks the ball down the road.” According to the county’s 2024-2025 budget, the rescue squad received $250,000 last year. Each agency outlined increasing costs for everything from fire hose and pharmacy items to fire trucks and ambulances.

The remaining agencies asked for level funding from last year, as well, including the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center, the Mathews Family YMCA, Versability Resources, and Rappahannock Community College.

Capital improvement plan

With a budget that’s expected to be tight in the upcoming year, the planning commission decided on Tuesday night to prioritize safety issues in the capital improvement plan. After spending two hours going over the list of requests for capital improvements and hearing from a couple of agencies about their needs, the commission opted to include items adding up to $1.517 million in its recommendation to the board of supervisors.

Items representing safety issues include Port Fun tennis courts—$208,000, medic unit annual contribution—$200,000, repointing historic Court Green buildings—$175,000, fire truck annual contribution—$150,000, pier repairs and replacement—$100,000, the sidewalk extension project at Mathews High School—$61,237, security camera upgrades at Liberty Square—$60,000, Mathews High School team floor—$23,000.

Also included were ditching and drainage—$100,000, lighting upgrades at county schools—$75,000, parking lot resurfacing at MHS and Mathews Elementary School—$65,000, field bathroom repairs—$60,000, bathroom renovations at Mathews High School and Thomas Hunter Middle School—$60,000, kitchen equipment for MHS and THMS—$52,000, new voting machines—$37,400, expansion of office space for Mathews Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court—$30,000, Court House water system upgrades—$25,000, LED lighting for energy savings—$20,000, and a new filing system for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations court—$16,000.