Grayson County adopts FY26 budget with 4¢ tax increase; approves FY24–25 amendments

The Grayson County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget, including a 4¢ tax increase, and approved an amendment to the FY24–25 budget during its June meeting.

County finance staff told the board the FY24–25 amendment adds roughly $1,000,000 in expenditures with offsetting revenue of about $600,000, producing a net general-fund increase of approximately $400,000. Line items noted in the amendment included $33,000 for the treasurer’s office, $4,000 for the circuit court judge’s office, $10,000 for a local department listed in the packet, $8,500 for the commonwealth’s attorney’s office, $60,000 for care of prisoners, $150,000 for refuse collection, $20,000 for recycling, $300,000 for the Department of Social Services, and $500,000 for Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) expenditures. The amendment also appropriated $125,000 in the opioid fund and $970,000 in the emergency fund from donations and contributions related to recent storm response.

“The expenditures related to the hurricane disaster are in this year’s accounts; we do not know yet whether reimbursement will arrive within this fiscal year,” a staff member said during the hearing.

The board adopted the FY26 budget after several public and supervisor comments about restored items and priorities. Supervisors restored funding for the county’s agriculture department after public concern and discussion; staff said the restored amount was on the order of $100,000. The board also put funds toward public safety: supervisors discussed roughly $2.5 million identified for a countywide radio communications system to serve law enforcement, fire and EMS, and noted continued investment in apparatus funding for EMS agencies.

Supervisors debated the balance of services funded, with multiple members saying they had received many calls from residents opposing cuts to agricultural services and supporting public safety funding. Board members repeatedly stressed compromises had been made across constitutional offices and departments in producing the adopted budget.

On tax collection policy, the board approved changing the timing for sending delinquent non-state taxes to TACS (the tax-collection contractor) from three years delinquent to two years, citing recent state legislative changes that now permit a two-year referral and provide taxpayers an opportunity to work with TACS on payment arrangements.

During the meeting supervisors also discussed cleanup needs following the recent hurricane and whether disaster-related cleanup costs could be reimbursed; staff said some federal or state reimbursement was expected but timing was uncertain.

The budget adoption and the FY24–25 amendment passed by voice vote. Supervisors signaled the county will continue to monitor reimbursements and departmental spending as the fiscal year progresses.

Less immediate items on the agenda included routine board appointments and informational reports.