TANGIER, Va. — The Tangier Town Council has approved a $1.18 million operating budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, following a special budget session held July 29 at Swain Memorial Church’s Sunday School building. After the required seven-day waiting period, the council reconvened on August 8 and unanimously approved the budget.
The meeting, led by Vice Mayor Beth Thomas, drew about 17 residents and centered on a detailed presentation by Council member Normand St.-Pierre, who drafted the budget. St.-Pierre cautioned that while the spending plan reflects significant old debts, the town should be in better financial shape next year.
“For at least five years, Tangier has been chronically losing money,” St.-Pierre said. “This year’s budget addresses those deficiencies, and we’re on the right track to dig out of more than a quarter of a million dollars in losses.”
The budget breaks down into three main operations:
• General Fund: $170,130 in revenue, $136,076 in expenses, netting $34,054.
• Fuel Dock: $793,347 in revenue, $809,944 in expenses, a shortfall of $16,597.
• Water, Sewer & Trash: $222,240 in revenue, $239,693 in expenses, a deficit of $17,453.
Overall, the budget balances within $5 — not even the federal or state government can balance a budget that good. Grants, such as those funding the ongoing fuel dock renovation, are handled separately.
Council members stressed the importance of tax collection in addressing the town’s financial strain. Delinquent property taxes have contributed to the crisis, and officials warned that penalties—including foreclosure—may be imposed if bills remain unpaid. A potential 5% property tax increase was also discussed.
During public comment, resident Nina Pruitt raised concerns about the cost of transporting water samples to the mainland. Officials responded that the expenses were necessary to avoid penalties but said alternative carriers are being explored. Pruitt also questioned the proposed 1% business tax, suggesting restaurants should instead pay the lapsed 4% meal tax or that property taxes be raised more broadly.
Another resident, Eugenia Pruitt, expressed concern about equipment blocking fuel dock access. Council member Tommy Eskridge explained the equipment was his and being used at his own expense to demolish the old dock and assist with food deliveries, with Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge praising Tommy’s volunteer efforts.
The next regular public meeting was scheduled for August 22.
Tangier Town Council Minutes Special Budget Session
Much praise for compiling these minutes goes to Barb Baechtel — and I can say with certainty, not every local government has minutes as clear and concise as what Barb does — so thanks from this old news reporter.
— Miles
The minutes below have been APPROVED, as voted on at the Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 meeting.
Meeting Date: July 29th, 2025
Meeting Location: Swain Memorial Church – Sunday School Building
Council Members Present:
• Beth Thomas, Vice Mayor
• Tommy Eskridge
• Tracy Pruitt
• Kelly Wheatley
• Anna Parks
• Normand St.-Pierre’
Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge.
Approximately 17 members of the Tangier community were in attendance.
Call to Order:
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The opening invocation was given by Elder Denny Crockett. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Beth Thomas.
Opening Statement:
Beth Thomas thanked everyone, particularly Pastor Chuck Parks, for the use of the Sunday School building.
She advised that the meeting was being recorded. Beth went on to explain that the reason for the special session was to have Normand St.-Pierre’ present the proposed FY 2025/2026 Town Budget. There must be a 7-day waiting period before a formal vote can be taken to approve the budget. She thanked Normand St.-Pierre’ for his diligent work, in putting the budget together.
Presentation of Proposed FY 2025/2026 Budget: Normand St.-Pierre’
Normand St.-Pierre’ explained that he was going to work methodically through the budget sections, pausing after each section to answer questions. He reiterated that he was working with as much information as he could gather, to develop the budget, but that it had to be stressed that there were many pieces of information that were missing, or otherwise unavailable.
He cautioned that people should not be alarmed by this year’s “cash accounting’ budget. Further, there are old debts and deficiencies are being addressed and dealt with in this budget, and that the Town should be in far better financial position next fiscal year. He stressed that the state that the Town found itself in was not a new problem. He believes that the Town has been chronically losing money for at least 5 years. This created a compounded issue; every year it was allowed to continue. He is confident that the Town is on the right track to dig out of over a quarter of a million dollars in losses.
Normand went on to explain that the three operational sections of the budget are: General Fund, Fuel Dock and Water, Sewer and Trash. Projects like the renovation of the Fuel Dock are handled in Grants, which have nothing to do with operational expenses.
Fund Revenue Expenses Net
General Fund $170,130 $136,076 $34,054
Fuel Dock $793,347 $809,944 ($16,597)
Water, Sewer & Trash $222,240 $239,693 ($17,453)
Total $1,185,717 — $1,185,712 — $5
Notes: The Town Council has a fiduciary duty to make certain that proper taxes are collected from the property owners on Tangier. Delinquent taxes from prior years have contributed to the financial crisis that the Town finds itself in, currently. The Town Council encourages Tangier residents to pay their tax bill promptly and reach out to make arrangements, if someone can’t pay it in a lump sum. If residents fail to pay their tax bills, the Town will be instituting penalties, up to and including foreclosure of properties with delinquent taxes.
Raising of Town property taxes by 5% was discussed as a possible solution to budget shortfalls.
Normand wanted everyone to know that these numbers reflect several large, previously unpaid debts and loans that make the “expenses” column high. Those debts and loans are scheduled to be totally, or mostly paid off within this budget cycle, meaning that the next budget cycle should look far less dire.
Public comments:
Nina Pruitt had concerns about the amount of money spent to get water samples to the mainland. Normand and Tommy Eskridge explained that, although it seems expensive, the money paid to transport the samples to Tyson is reasonable, particularly in light of the penalties that would be imposed if we didn’t pay to get them delivered. They explained that a new company in Salisbury may be an option, which opens the option of possibly asking a Town resident to deliver the samples.
Nina went on to ask if any thought had been given to the Town taking over the current trash collection contract, and having Town employees collect the trash. Members of Council explained that the trash collection contract was very inexpensive and that it would be far more expensive to buy, insure and maintain a trashtruck and pay Town employees to collect trash.
Nina Pruitt also asked for clarification on the proposed 1% business tax, indicating that the restaurants should be paying the now-defunct 4% meal tax, rather than burdening the smaller businesses, or that the property taxes should be raised, instead of a business tax. A discussion ensued on previous efforts by earlier Town management bodies, to impose a tourist tax on the large tour boats – an effort that failed when tried before.
Eugenia Pruitt had a concern about personal equipment blocking access to the fuel dock area. Tommy Eskridge explained that the equipment was his, and that he was not simply storing it there, but had used it to demolish and haul off the old fuel dock, at his expense, and that he uses it every month to help offload food from the food bank boat.
Mayor Eskridge pointed out that Tommy receives no compensation or reimbursement from the town for his excellent management of the fuel dock or the use of his personal boat and equipment. He also pointed out that the fuel dock is a construction area and that everyone can expect limited access for at least another year.
Adjournment:
The next public meeting will be held on Friday, August 22nd. Since there was no further business; the meeting was adjourned by Ooker Eskridge at 6:13 p.m.
On August 8th, 2025, after the proscribed waiting period, members T. Eskridge, E. Thomas, A. Parks, K. Wheatley, T. Pruitt & Mayor Eskridge (absent N. St Pierre) met to vote on the attached budget with a quorum.
Motion: To approve FY25/26 made by T. Eskridge, seconded by T. Pruitt. Unanimous Aye. Motion carried.
Tangier Island, Virginia 