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Russell County supervisors approve proposed tax plan after heated debate, commission forensic audit
Summary
After hours of public comment and internal debate, the Russell County Board of Supervisors set a proposed tax stance to support teacher and employee pay increases, approved a tax-deadline date and agreed to commission a forensic audit amid calls for greater transparency.
After roughly three hours of public comment and several hours of debate, the Russell County Board of Supervisors advanced a package of budget actions intended to fund pay increases for school employees and county staff while holding most county services intact.
County Administrator Lonzo Lester told the board that rising contractual costs — notably health insurance and regional jail assessments — left the county with limited options and that most line-item authority lies outside the supervisors’ control under the Code of Virginia. He presented a set of proposed reductions and revenue options and said the board needed to decide which services to protect.
Supervisors and speakers from across the county pressed for different responses.…
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