Board of Supervisors approves June 26 tax due date, ends local emergency and adopts MS proclamation; routine approvals passed

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved several measures during its meeting, including a change to the due date for the first installment of annual real‑estate taxes, a resolution formally ending a February local emergency declared for severe winter storms, and a proclamation designating March as Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. The board also approved routine procedural items including the agenda, monthly disbursements and minutes.

Tax date change

The board adopted an ordinance to move the due date for the first semiannual real‑estate tax payment from June 5 to June 26 each year. County Attorney Steve Durbin told the board the change is authorized by state statute and that the purpose is to give the county and the treasurer more time to finalize and mail bills while also giving citizens three extra weeks to pay the first installment. Durbin cited Virginia Code §58.1‑3916 in his explanation of local authority to set tax collection dates. The board’s roll call on the motion recorded five "yes" votes; the ordinance was adopted.

End of local emergency

The board adopted a resolution ending the local declaration of emergency that had been issued in February for severe winter storms and related impacts. The county attorney referenced the Code of Virginia provision governing local emergency declarations in his remarks. The resolution was approved by unanimous roll call.

Multiple Sclerosis proclamation

Supervisors approved a proclamation designating March 2025 as Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month in Floyd County (the packet contained a typographical year error the board corrected during discussion). The proclamation passed on a unanimous vote.

Routine approvals

Earlier in the meeting the board approved the meeting agenda as amended, the county’s monthly disbursements and the February minutes by roll‑call votes. The motions for agenda and minutes approvals and the disbursement vote each received unanimous support from supervisors present.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance: Change first real‑estate tax installment due date from June 5 to June 26 — Outcome: Adopted (roll call: Booth YES; Cookenbrook YES; Bechtel YES; Cox YES; Turman YES). Referenced authority: Virginia Code §58.1‑3916.

- Resolution: End declaration of local emergency due to severe winter storms — Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous). Referenced authority: Virginia Code §44‑146.21 (as cited in meeting).

- Proclamation: March 2025 as Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month (corrected typographical year in text) — Outcome: Approved (roll call: unanimous).

- Routine motions: Approve meeting agenda; approve monthly disbursements; approve minutes for Feb. 13, 2025 — Outcome: All approved (roll call: unanimous for each item).

What the board said

County Attorney Durbin explained that moving the due date allows more time to finalize budgets and tax bills because the General Assembly’s state budget actions often compress the local budget schedule. Board members noted there was no change to the December installment due date (remains December 5) and that the change does not alter the treasurer’s existing ability to accept payment plans or otherwise work with taxpayers.

The end of emergency resolution closes the record on storm response and allows staff to proceed with routine recovery and administrative follow‑up. The board asked staff to proceed with after‑action review steps and to compile lessons learned for future emergency planning.

Ending

All measures were adopted by unanimous roll call of supervisors present. The tax due‑date ordinance takes effect on a permanent basis as adopted; staff said they will incorporate the date change into future tax‑billing cycles and public notices.