Dickenson County presents proposed $31.3 million fiscal 2026 budget with no tax-rate changes

County staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget totaling roughly $31.3 million for the 12 months beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and said the plan keeps real estate and personal property tax rates unchanged.

The overview, delivered by an unnamed county staff member at a Board of Supervisors meeting, said anticipated revenues are $31,324,666 and stated expenditures at $31,324,667. "This is a balanced budget," the staff member said. The staff member also said the county had advertised three separate budgets: the general fund, a coal-and-gas road improvement fund and the enhanced 9‑1‑1 fund.

The nut graf: the proposed budget maintains the current tax rates and groups several dedicated funds for separate review, meaning services and department requests are being funded within those totals and the board is expected to formally adopt the budget at a June meeting, the staff member said.

Details: the staff member said the coal-and-gas severance (road improvement) fund shows anticipated revenues and expenditures of $2,850,500, unchanged from the current year. The enhanced 9‑1‑1 fund was described as having anticipated revenues of about $1,048,000. The staff member said the enhanced 9‑1‑1 revenue stream is made up of a small number of telephone surcharges (from landlines), state funds and a majority transfer from the general fund; the staff member described the general-fund transfer as the largest source for that line item.

County officials and staff described the budget process as lengthy and iterative. The staff member said budget work began in January, departments submitted requests in mid-February, and the board held several workshops to reach a balanced plan. The staff member told the board that every draft was revised as new costs emerged, citing repeated adjustments required when the county received notice of additional costs such as higher regional jail charges.

Public participation and next steps: the board opened the floor for public comment by phone and online but received no callers. A board member made a motion to close public comment, which passed by voice vote. Later in the meeting a motion to adjourn was made and seconded and passed. The staff member said the county has advertised the three budgets and expects to adopt them at the board meeting in June.

Discussion versus decision: the board did not adopt the fiscal 2026 budget at this meeting; staff presented the proposed/advertised figures and the board is expected to take final action at a later meeting. Several board members thanked staff for the work involved in producing the budget and acknowledged ongoing uncertainties around specific revenue lines and regional expense increases.

Ending: the board will consider formal adoption of the advertised fiscal 2026 budget at a future meeting in June; no additional public callers were recorded at this session.