Dickenson County supervisors approve tax increase, sanctuary resolution and local grant support
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Summary
On Jan. 20, 2026 the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors approved raising the lodging (transient occupancy) tax from 2% to 5%, adopted an updated second‑amendment sanctuary resolution, and approved a $25,000 OAA match with the county serving as fiscal agent for a regional recovery‑to‑work grant; the board also approved mutual aid, contract assignments and multiple routine items.
The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 20 approved a package of measures including a hike to the county transient‑occupancy tax, an updated second‑amendment sanctuary resolution and local support for a regional opioid‑abatement workforce grant.
The board voted to increase the county transient‑occupancy (lodging) tax from 2 percent to 5 percent. Board members clarified that towns inside the county would remain at 2 percent unless they enter a separate agreement with the county. The public comment period on the ordinance closed with no speakers and the ordinance was approved by motion of the board.
The board also adopted an updated resolution declaring Dickenson County a second‑amendment sanctuary. Citizen Joni Baker, who identified herself as a full‑time deputy in the county and chair of the county Republican Party, urged passage and said the updated language incorporates recent court decisions. The resolution text quoted U.S. Supreme Court decisions including District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago and cited provisions of the Virginia Constitution in expressing the board’s intent to oppose laws the board perceives as unconstitutional.
Rachel Patton, executive director of the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board, asked the board to support a regional OAA (opioid abatement) application and to serve as fiscal agent. Patton said the ROPES recovery‑to‑work program serves 35 participants in Dickenson County and has helped more than 300 people across the region; she asked the county to provide a $25,000 match from local OAA funds and to act as fiscal agent for the three‑year proposal. The board approved the request and directed staff to prepare the needed resolution language.
Other formal approvals included: • A mutual‑aid and cooperation agreement between Dickenson County and Buchanan County sheriff’s offices to permit interjurisdictional backup and coordination; the board approved the updated agreement. • Approval to assign outstanding Lane Group engineering contracts to Rinker Design Associates following a corporate acquisition; staff said legal review found no problems and the measure passed. • Authorization for the county to participate in a Virginia public‑authority steering committee that negotiates electric rates with AEP. • Approval of a resolution expressing appreciation to the Southwest Virginia legislative delegation for Bristol casino revenue sharing and urging continuation of the existing, equal distribution among the 14 participating localities.
Board members also approved routine items including a master service agreement with Pierce Insurance to coordinate voluntary employee insurance products (no county cost), several appointments to boards and committees, the annual electronic‑meeting policy and calendar adjustments for holidays and payroll. The board entered a closed session under Va. Code §2.2‑3711(A)(7) for probable litigation, returned to open session, certified compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and then adopted a resolution approving a settlement of litigation.
Motions were moved and seconded by board members during the meeting; vote counts were recorded as voice votes in favor with no recorded roll‑call tallies in the public transcript for most measures.
What happens next: The transient‑occupancy tax ordinance will be administered by county staff; any town‑level decisions about matching the rate depend on town‑county agreements. County staff said they will follow up on the OAA application paperwork and on the mutual‑aid agreement logistics.
