Wythe County residents press supervisors for transparency on Solis Arc revenue, capital plan

Residents pressed the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to be transparent about how projected tax revenue from the recently approved Solis Arc data center will be used and how it is represented in the county’s five-year capital improvement plan.

At citizens’ time, Andy Keggley and Mike Forrest highlighted a $10,000,000 line that appears in FY28 and later for property acquisition and arena-related infrastructure and urged clearer public explanations of funding sources and priorities. “I suggest the following, 10 to 20% to go to teacher salary for retention,” Forrest said, adding that another 10 to 20% should provide direct tax relief and that the rest should fund capital infrastructure. Forrest urged the board to consider a countywide zoning study as part of long-term planning.

Tony Floyd and other commenters called for a public meeting with Solis Arc and utility representatives to answer citizen questions about timelines, environmental and traffic impacts, and long-term stewardship of the revenue. Floyd asked the board for “a written public accessible policy that clearly explains how Solis Arc revenue will be protected, invested, and used, going forward.”

County planning staff and supervisors described the capital improvement plan (CIP) as a flexible five-year planning tool required by state code and said timing and spending are approximate. Planning director Hankins explained that some projects depend on federal and state grant timing and that the CIP lays out planning estimates rather than fixed commitments. He also described county-owned lots along Chapman Road and a 30-acre parcel near the Hitachi Energy Arena that are being marketed for development.

The board voted to adopt the CIP as presented with direction that it can be amended as conditions change. Chair and multiple supervisors said adopting the CIP does not lock projects into precise fiscal years and that further public review and budget-stage scrutiny would follow.

The public raised two recurring concerns: insufficient detail in the CIP’s spreadsheet about funding sources and operating cost impacts, and whether one-time or recurring Solis Arc revenue would be used to supplant existing funding rather than create new, long-term investments. Supervisors acknowledged those concerns and said they would provide additional clarifications and consider public hearings. No formal policy to earmark Solis Arc funds was adopted during the meeting.

Next steps: the board adopted the CIP and staff said budget work will proceed this week with a revenue-forecasting meeting; supervisors and staff committed to follow up on public questions about Chapman Road lots and to pursue a publicly accessible policy for handling the data center revenue.