[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089579,"mediaKeyId","2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8","parentId",2872612,"title","Sheriff urges staffing, accreditation and budget clarity as county reviews FY26 requests","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",3776000,"endMs",4329000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8&start=3776&end=4329","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089579/Grayson-County/Virginia/Sheriff-urges-staffing-accreditation-and-budget-clarity-as-county-reviews-FY26-requests","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089579-6c1a981f7b00636c97288b7dd97b3d2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161187&Signature=UDH3swSlCURXC3roW-wFCxruEr9AjWxxUiT-ixHNano9Bp2rHcwlDFqMYEUZIlAM3WUnl0C6~4KrxigCmG~ix2KaH3RwisNqrt4sbKdePp2Rp-HDjfwJR~bcVO8bXRusOk1UvgXciCPXqCX6OT3iZLqaHVVAOvNxR6i9THDdrBBLEyhK1Fc9oECLNCzoh7ziyPXfnTolQMUX60w2BdC-UMOp6Xbf60qecZH~ShK8dN4vEJRIchb2~eoi~nlX7lIOZDykeFxPeUBOG42OsIafd1ibcWSvAZ8EA1XXa1pG7JYSNndKiFJCAtk1lqoQOa9yqK7t6CYZtFuDdcdOlPFm4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Graysom County, VA","date","2025-04-04T09:09:06Z","article","The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office presented its FY26 budget request and described priorities that include pursuing formal accreditation, maintaining staffing levels, and seeking modest policy changes tied to retirement multiplier and professional services.

\"We cannot skip on personnel. I want to hire the best and the brightest people we can get,\" said Sheriff Anderson, who led the sheriff’s presentation. Anderson told the board the office operates 24/7 across a geographically large county and highlighted civil-liability exposure as a key reason to preserve staffing and training budgets.

The sheriff’s office requested approximately $3,446,109 for FY26 (figure shown on the office’s worksheet). Anderson described investments tied to accreditation—the office expects auditors on site in early April for an accreditation review that, if successful, would improve grant eligibility and provide liability protections. He asked the board to consider a pay-related policy change (an enhanced Virginia Retirement System multiplier of 1.85 for deputies), which county staff estimated would cost roughly $50,000 if adopted.

Anderson discussed a law-enforcement staffing study commissioned in 2022 that recommended five additional deputies to provide more proactive patrol time; he said the board granted one additional position previously and that the office currently has 14 uniform patrol officers. Anderson said he was not formally asking for more deputy positions in this FY26 request but reiterated that the staffing study’s recommendations remain relevant to long-term coverage needs.

Much of the session turned to past year-end budget variances and how they were handled. Board members and the sheriff’s office discussed an unfavorable variance the sheriff’s office reported in last year’s accounting; the sheriff’s office cited an actual spending figure around $3,466,109 in one column and another figure near $3,589,000 in discussion of prior-year results. County staff and the sheriff’s office discussed procedures for correcting shortfalls and for submitting budget amendments; staff referenced Virginia Code chapter 15.2 and said formal budget amendments are required when offices exceed appropriations.

Other line items highlighted included an increase in telecommunication and professional service costs (software and policy/access systems needed for accreditation), dispatcher pay adjustments and operating costs such as uniforms, training and fuel. Anderson emphasized the operational pressure of covering 450 square miles with limited patrol staffing and described recruitment and retention as ongoing challenges.

Board members and county staff asked the sheriff’s office for additional documentation on variances and for clarity about costs; the sheriff’s office and staff agreed to follow up with more detailed line-item explanations and supporting documents for the next budget meeting. No final funding decisions were made at the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Grayson County BOS Budget Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office outlined plans to pursue accreditation, maintain current staffing levels and recommended future hires; the sheriff and board members also debated past year-end budget variances and procedures for budget amendments.","taxTitle","Grayson County, Virginia","taxId",30990,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089584,"School officials seek county commitment for Independence Elementary addition and grant application",326,2476000,2802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8&start=2476&end=2802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8/thumbnail_2476000.jpg","/articles/6089584/Grayson-County/Virginia/School-officials-seek-county-commitment-for-Independence-Elementary-addition-and-grant-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089584-d4e404c79485b1a1067ab4a4bd223da2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161187&Signature=lMmftf~ELDEkjdUVNMBp6RXfDUZN78ZM2ZiWGHpoH4f5a5mem-mStUKI~llUWIt6adOEomnwqlROcaCZPUjbyhc8sar4Foo7wP11yuva0IU2q779yis0wpLHqPZgPpSSkQRKnzeUE8Ojt4PrfzvYIPXm8mUm63loE1MAwY0wlj9JIhnSvpa5q0Ci36hL7PdA6jQJn8khjeVQbwnbtyFj0RYVJhgBa46VlYF-bM9NqJzaqZ64L4sfwBS5ikJ4nYlHwtruhWbldst1Oq2N0gyO1Bou0-tMO3Et-sE3HdAOvEv~5kz5upw43c5votTfgsN7~VncJIMmAGCmipFznSxnzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A school division representative asked the Board of Supervisors to support a state renovation grant application to replace temporary trailers and add classrooms at Independence Elementary School (IES).

The school official told the board the immediate need is to remove two trailers that house classrooms and the library and build permanent space. The division presented a preliminary design for a roughly 7,200-square-foot addition that would provide five classrooms and restrooms and estimated the construction cost at about $3,000,000. The school representative said adding a cafeteria and kitchen expansion would add roughly $1,000,000, taking a full project to approximately $4,000,000.

\"That would be 5 classrooms and bathrooms included...a new IES addition of 7,300 square feet is about $3,000,000,\" the school official said. The presentation noted the division has roughly $1.8 million currently allotted in its CIP toward the project and said the state grant under discussion could provide up to 30% of eligible project costs; at a 30% award rate, a $3,000,000 project would yield about $900,000 in state funds.

The school representative asked the county to consider covering $300,000 above the division’s required local effort to make the project feasible, and requested a county commitment letter similar to one the county provided in 2021. The school official said the grant application deadline is April 18 and asked that the board indicate whether the county will support the application by that date.

The school official also described other needs: asbestos removal and lighting upgrades at Fairview Elementary (estimated about $300,000) and weapons detectors (the presenter estimated about $18,000 per unit) the division hopes to add for school safety. For Fairview, the presenter said the division anticipates covering the cost from renovation reserves and therefore was not requesting county funding for that item at this time.

Supervisors said they would review architectural materials and discuss the requested commitment and timing; the board did not take immediate action at the session.","School representatives asked supervisors to sign a county commitment letter to support a state renovation grant that would fund an addition at Independence Elementary; they proposed a 7,200 sq ft addition estimated at about $3 million and requested the county consider covering $300,000 above the local required effort.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089588,"Emergency services seeks added staff, grants and equipment to expand EMS coverage",282,1148000,1430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8&start=1148&end=1430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8/thumbnail_1148000.jpg","/articles/6089588/Grayson-County/Virginia/Emergency-services-seeks-added-staff-grants-and-equipment-to-expand-EMS-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089588-bf90a09feb7abcacbedd5dd296f189f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161187&Signature=UPqbL7AtYYTT1p36Q5aY1917VIhG6HR6BYegq5-R~hQTNxTTBUH~h5EG~-dKVXzMH2b2h5j8Q7l3p1X0VrC-4KqmdoDMhiYC4OKM-juOCLJL4VGzTHCSerLNwkgvnP~dzQix0QULNqvJNJvlid-1jExYkDmQ-jLkIDNMxguM4-FOSgKITLYVXRUGHkFiN~KfVDdV0XgnPVuGGKThSZX2~T3800BOb~NpgHa07pC09JcSIrvOMmb3M7UcrpCToW4DcE6GCcneyyt9xGyU9q0r0ywGQB9XVpyTvpg6KoSmuDA69mvMUZ-NH8vgg9Wf0WcPeNVTkHooC5JRxs2GiGDPvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grayson County’s emergency services coordinator presented the department’s FY26 budget request and asked the Board of Supervisors to support additional staff and several grant-funded equipment projects to shore up countywide EMS coverage.

\"We'd like to add an additional EMS position,\" said Mr. Folwell, the county’s emergency services coordinator. He told the board that adding one ALS position would cost about $64,000 per year including fringes and would move staffing closer to seven-day coverage; Folwell said his office currently lacks personnel to answer roughly a quarter of EMS dispatches when no provider is scheduled.

Folwell described three other key staffing and equipment requests: an administrative/office position estimated at about $45,000 (salary plus benefits) to handle invoicing and paperwork and free coordinator time for emergency management tasks; a multi-year, phased SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) replacement program—Folwell proposed purchasing five units per year at roughly $10,000 each under a federal Assistance to Firefighters grant (he noted a local match would be required); and a targeted generator replacement effort for volunteer stations, noting several generator failures in recent years.

On technology and reimbursement, Folwell asked the county to consider a countywide contract for EMS reporting software used for state reporting and agency billing; he estimated the software contract in the ballpark of $24,000 and said the department would pursue grant funding to cover most or part of that cost.

Folwell said the emergency services budget request totals approximately $2,100,000 and that about $2,112,000 of that represents direct pass-through funding to volunteer agencies. He also flagged about $460,000 in contract costs and roughly $279,000 of grant project spending in the request; Folwell said a portion of that grant funding—he estimated roughly $88,000—would be non-recoverable local match.

The coordinator discussed contract increases requested by some volunteer agencies and noted that call volumes have risen in recent years; for example, he reported ALS support call volume has increased to roughly 800 dispatches per year and said that some partner agencies requested higher contract amounts than the county currently pays.

Supervisors asked for a handout of Folwell’s materials and pressed on schedule and coverage options; Folwell said schedule changes alone could not reliably close the coverage gap and that the additional position would provide resilience for training, leave and simultaneous calls. He also discussed interim options such as leasing bunk space with a volunteer fire department and the longer-term possibility of leased bunkrooms or station upgrades.

The board did not take action at the session; Folwell said he would provide handouts and supporting documents for follow-up budget discussions.","The county’s emergency services coordinator requested one additional ALS position, an administrative position and a bundle of grant-funded equipment and generator replacements to improve coverage and reliability for volunteer agencies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089594,"Grayson County staff say FY26 general fund faces roughly $3.5 million shortfall",115,380000,495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8&start=380&end=495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872612-7e94eeb65de9274ba71a1075be8b45f8/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6089594/Grayson-County/Virginia/Grayson-County-staff-say-FY26-general-fund-faces-roughly-35-million-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089594-48b880a558ea2166ebe33c750e11476d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161187&Signature=NKaLwh0l7jYhtksa2QqDCIRK0vk7lp~UihQwcN-0dvclmxuyKK~K0oboJgYrW-8ReiUpOysiaW054~ZVXCqA1KvIQ6AJ~YGvxvLKgg6HWc0j1R~arRkqscFBLOM2OUaU8z4PPnkKGCDpK35MKOtEMayKXIv5Twcy5pQ2PXX-vpeZZ-hcHsHgGrzgF1vAaYjtf8I5DylFgxqfEHxHIyKDkBOYpneBvHVFLc4ThUcSh0ZOb5FpahycDjnZp8cdjCZKCSKAmh37cz0R320P0Uev9ngQESvk3nAXUL~qBXSqGT1RhcqzXWGN7g-P0baGUIrbFni6Yb2KQWspDWbZ1mORiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented an initial overview of Grayson County’s fiscal year 2026 general fund budget and told the Board of Supervisors the current working estimate shows a roughly $3,500,000 shortfall.

\"Our general fund operational budget is at a $3,500,000 deficit,\" said Nikki, a county staff member leading the review. She told the board the figure assumes the county funds a previously committed $1.98 million in capital improvement project (CIP) work to the schools this year.

County staff framed the shortfall as the product of several near-term cost increases: a state-mandated 1.5% bonus that the staff estimated will cost about $187,000; a 3% cost-of-living adjustment estimated near $260,000; health insurance increases (about $130,000); higher workers' compensation; and a required local effort increase for schools of roughly $327,000. Staff also cited a CIP commitment of $1,980,000 tied to the school system. Together, those items and other normal expenditure growth pushed total expenditure increases to about $3.1 million, staff said.

Revenue comparisons presented to the board show actual general fund receipts of about $27,000,000 in FY2023, a one-time bump to roughly $30,900,000 in FY2024 tied to a broadband project bond issuance, and budgeted revenue near $29,000,000 for FY2025 and FY2026. Staff noted that those revenue levels have risen only modestly while average local inflation measured across several items has climbed far faster over the same multi-year period.

The county’s stated budget priorities remain emergency medical services, broadband and 911 stabilization, and planning for future needs. Staff said the FY26 budget remains fluid: federal and state revenues that affect the county’s totals are still uncertain and could change the shortfall. \"Those are some of our unknowns at this point,\" Nikki said.

County staff asked the board for direction on potential responses including spending reductions, re-timing capital projects, and levy/levy-rate decisions; staff also scheduled additional departmental presentations and a follow-up work session.

Board members and constitutional officers discussed budget-monitoring practices and year-end adjustments during the presentations; several supervisors asked staff to provide more department-level detail and handouts for subsequent meetings.

The county did not adopt a final FY26 budget at this session; staff described the presentation as an initial, high-level review and said budget figures will change as the board provides direction and as state and federal inputs firm up.","County staff told the Board of Supervisors the proposed fiscal year 2026 general fund budget shows a roughly $3.5 million deficit driven by pay increases, required school funding and rising insurance and debt costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriff urges staffing, accreditation and budget clarity as county reviews FY26 requests

School officials seek county commitment for Independence Elementary addition and grant application

Emergency services seeks added staff, grants and equipment to expand EMS coverage

Grayson County staff say FY26 general fund faces roughly $3.5 million shortfall