Dinwiddie supervisors hear proposed FY2026 budget, plan new pay scale and public-safety hires

County Administrator Kevin Massengill presented the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors with a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and a FY2026–2035 capital improvements plan during a public hearing Thursday, outlining a roughly $66 million operating budget, a new class-and-compensation plan and targeted investments in law enforcement, fire/EMS and school capital needs.

Massengill said the proposed budget is built around a 64¢ real-estate tax rate adopted earlier in 2025 and reflects local revenues of about $57.7 million, state revenues of about $8.2 million and roughly $93,000 in federal funds. He said the county's total revenue package and one-time capital items produce a larger expense number, but when one-time items are removed the recurring budget balances at about $66 million.

The proposal would create a two-track pay structure separating general government and public-safety scales, raise the minimum full‑time starting wage to $15 an hour, and guarantee every existing employee at least a 3% adjustment. Massengill said Autosolv, Inc. completed the compensation study and that constitutional officers may opt in or out of the new pay plan.

The budget…