Speedwell resident Linda Meyer questioned Wythe County’s proposed budget, asking supervisors why there was no carry-over funds coming from the library, Joint Industrial Development Authority and other agencies.
Meyer, who complained that the budget figures were hard to find on the county’s website, asked why there were jumps in funding for the JIDA, the electoral board and the APEX center, saying “I thought we were pretty much closed up” during the pandemic.
Meyer was the only person to speak at the public hearing for the county and school budgets.
The county’s proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1, is $85.5 million, down close to $3 million from the current year and up by about $2 million from fiscal year 2020. The schools’ proposed budget of $50.3 million is up by $655,00 from the current year.
Meyer left before supervisors responded to her questions.
Stacy Terry said during his time that the county gets a good return on investment from the JIDA, pointing to several new industrial announcements made in the past six months. Terry also said that Meyer’s comments are uncalled for, taking special issue with the fact that she addresses the board as “gentleman,” noting that it is disrespectful to Supervisors Ryan Lawson.
Board Chair Brian Vaught noted that there was a $20,000 carryover from the library and that APEX salaries are pass-through funding. He said the expenses had been covered often over the year and agreed with Terry’s assessments on the new businesses and on what board members called disrespect.
“God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason,” Vaught said.
After a public hearing with no comments, Wythe County supervisors approved the coming year’s tax levy.
There are no increases. Real estate remains at 54 cents per $100 of valuation. Personal property is still at $2.32 per $100. Machine and tools is $1.50 per $100 and merchants capital is set at 56 cents.
The tax rates have been unchanged since at least 2018.
Several local convenience store owners spoke against a cigarette tax for the county, saying stores were hit hard by COVID-19 and an extra tax on cigarette could break the camel’s back.
Before the board passed the cigarette tax, County Administrator crunched the numbers, saying it would alleviate pressure on real estate tax revenue, replacing about 6 cents of real estate tax. The 40-cent per pack tax, Bear said, is only for cigarettes, not vaping supplies or smokeless tobacco.
County officials also approved the Virginia Department of Transportation’s six-year plan.
Supervisors approved an addition and remodeling for the Lead Mines Rescue Squad building and a request for a special election for sheriff. On May 11, Sheriff Keith Dunagan announced his retirement effective Aug. 1. Chief Deputy Charles Foster will take the reins in an interim role.
