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Mathews County, Virginia

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Budget Y
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Meetings Y
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Elected Officials Y
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Administrative Officials Y
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Permits, zoning Y
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Audits Y
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Contracts Y
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Lobbying Y
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Public records Y
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Local taxes Y
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Transparency grading process

Mathews County is one of 95 counties in Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 8,978[1]. Its county seat is Mathews, Virginia.

Website evaluation

In 2011 Mathews County earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.

This website was most recently reviewed 2013-01-31.

Main article: Evaluation of Virginia county websites

The good

  • Budget
    • The most current budget is listed.
    • Budgets are archived for 9 years.[2]
  • Administrative Officials
    • Department heads are listed for each department.[3]
    • Contact information for administrative officials is provided including a mailing address, phone number, and personalized email.
  • Elected Officials
    • Elected officials are listed with a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.[4]
  • Meetings
    • Meeting minutes are archived for 4 years.
    • Meeting agendas are archived for 4 years.[5]
    • A meeting calendar is available and names the times and locations of public meetings.[6]
  • Audits
    • The most recent audit is posted.
    • Audits dating back to 2004-2005 are available.[7]
  • Contracts
    • Bids and RFPs are posted online.[8]
    • Approved contract statements are provided for vendors.
  • Public Records
    • The public information officers are identified and maintained by the FOIA Council. This person provides a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.[9]
    • A public records form is provided.
    • A fee schedule for documents is provided.
  • Taxes
    • Tax revenues are broken down by federal, state, and local funding in the budget.
    • Local taxes, like property taxes, are available online.[10][11]
    • Residents are able to pay taxes online.[12]
  • Lobbying
    • The county discloses it does not hire lobbyists.[13]
  • Permits and zoning
    • Zoning ordinances are posted online.[14]
    • Permit applications can be downloaded on the site, along with information on how to apply for the permits.[15]

Board of Supervisors

The County's Board of Supervisors includes five members elected at large who serve four year staggered terms. The Board meets the fourth Tuesday each month, alternating between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Please check the Meetings page or Calendar for correct meeting times.[16]

Mission Statement of the Mathews County Board of Supervisors:[16] The government of Mathews County exists to provide the citizens of the county with services which will address their individual and collective needs both for the present and the future. In partnership with the citizens, the government of Mathews County pledges a civic stewardship that is fiscally accountable, socially responsible and worthy of citizen trust.

County Administrator

The County Administrator's Office is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county government. Activities include general management, financial management and budgeting, economic development, and solid waste management as well as supervision of county departments. The County Administrator is the Chief Administrative Officer of the county and serves at the pleasure of the elected Board of Supervisors. The County Administrator is the Chief Financial Officer and is tasked with presenting a fully balanced draft budget to the Board of Supervisors for consideration each year. [17]

The current County Administrator is Stephen K. Whiteway.[18]

Budget

The county posts several financial documents online:[19]

  • Proposed new fiscal year County Budget (This is the County Administrator's first draft of the recommended budget as presented to the Board of Supervisors)
  • Budget Adoption Schedules (This schedule is adopted by the Board and outlines the various meetings and deadlines of the budget process. All meetings are open to the public. Public comment is welcome during Public Hearings.)
  • Budget Advertisements (These advertisements are required persuant to Sections 15.2-2503, 15.2-2506, 22.1-93 and 58.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. This is where the Board of Supervisors announces a public hearing on the proposed budget as well as any changes in tax rates)
  • Adopted County Budgets including Schools (These are the final adopted and amended budgets. They are normally adopted in May of each year with amendments adopted at the Board of Supervisors regular monthly meeting in June)
  • Amendments (Any amendments adopted by the Board of Supervisors after the budget has been adopted will be listed here)
  • Adopted Schools Budgets (These are the final adopted and amended budgets which the Mathews County School Board adopts and then submits to the Board of Supervisors for adoption each year)
  • Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (Audit Report) (These reports are the audited financials of the entire local government. These reports are compiled by external auditors)
  • Monthly departmental claims reports (Accounts Payable) (These show all invoices that have been paid during a particular time period)
  • Monthly expenditure and revenue summary reports (These are basically a summary of the above information)
  • Monthly check registers (This lists all vendors with check numbers that have been paid each month)

Taxes

The Board of Supervisors sets the tax rates each year during the budget adoption process. Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2503, 15.2-2506, 22.1-93 and 58.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the Board holds a public hearing on the proposed budget for the following fiscal year and for any proposed increase in tax rates.[20]

2010 Tax Rates:[20]

  • Real Estate (including residential mobile homes) -- $.56 per $100 of assessed valuation
  • Boats -- $1.45 per $100 of assessed valuation
  • Auto, Light Trucks, Motorcycles -- $4.53 per $100 of assessed valuation
  • Other: Business Equipment, Campers, Utility Trailers, Storage Mobile Homes, etc. -- $2.14 per $100 of assessed valuation
  • Automobiles & Trucks Annual Registration Fee -- $25.00 per year, per vehicle - decals will not be issued
  • Motorcycles & Similar Two Wheel Vehicles Annual Registration Fee -- $10.00 per year, per vehicle
  • Antique Motor Vehicles -- $5.00 one time registration fee for as long as vehicle is vested in the applicant.

The County of Mathews does not collect any local taxes at this time.[20]

Lobbying

The County of Mathews does not contract with any lobbyist or lobbying firm, nor does the County pay dues to any lobbying associations. The elected Board of Supervisors and appointed County Administrator perform all lobbying activities on behalf of the citizens of Mathews, as needed.[21]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population Estimates
  2. ↑ Matthews County, Budgets, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  3. ↑ Matthews County, Staff Directory, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  4. ↑ Matthews County, Elected Officials, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  5. ↑ Matthews County, Meeting Minutes and Agendas, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  6. ↑ Matthews County, Meeting Calendar, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  7. ↑ Matthews County, Audits, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  8. ↑ Matthews County, RFPs, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  9. ↑ Matthews County, FOIA Records Requests, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  10. ↑ Matthews County, Taxes and Revenues, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  11. ↑ Matthews County, Tax Rates, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  12. ↑ Matthews County, Pay Taxes Online, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  13. ↑ Matthews County, Lobbying, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  14. ↑ Matthews County, Zoning, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  15. ↑ Matthews County, Building Permit, Accessed: Jan 25, 2013
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Board of Supervisors
  17. ↑ County Administrator
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named admin_contact
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named finance
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named taxes
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lobbying
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