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Board adopts ordinance to allow jurors to donate appearance fees
Summary
Smyth County adopted an ordinance enabling jurors to donate their $50 appearance fee to specified local organizations after officials said state code requires a local ordinance to permit such donations.
The Smyth County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that allows jurors to donate their $50 appearance fee to designated local organizations, such as a jury expense fund and Southwest Virginia Legal Aid.
A county representative explained there is no existing mechanism for jurors who wish to forgo their $50 payment to donate it and that state code requires a local ordinance to permit donation. "There's a code section that says there has to be an ordinance in place before that can be allowed," the presenter told the board.
The board waived procedural rules to consider the matter immediately and then voted to adopt the ordinance; the minutes record the action as approved unanimously. Board members said they did not expect the program to generate large sums but believed it would support justice-related services and the administration of justice in the county.
The ordinance now provides a mechanism for jurors to direct their appearance payments to qualifying local entities. County staff said the ordinance could be expanded to include additional recipient organizations in the future.
