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County staff presents proposed budget; recommends 3% raises, new grant manager and lodging-tax increase option
Summary
County staff outlined the proposed Carroll County budget on March 30, recommending a 3% across-the-board pay increase, adding a resource-development grant manager, and tightening revenue estimates after Parkdale's closure while suggesting a lodging-tax increase as a revenue option.
At the March 30, 2026 Carroll County Board of Supervisors budget work session, county staff reviewed revenue and expenditure assumptions and recommended a 3% pay increase for county employees and creation of a resource-development grant manager position to support grant-writing and reporting.
Staff described tightened revenue projections after the Parkdale plant closure and estimated the machine-and-tool tax loss at about $460,000. "One of the main things is we've had to tighten those up," a staff member said while explaining conservative revenue estimates.
The budget presentation proposed increasing local lodging-tax revenue by adjusting the countyportion of the lodging rate (illustrative scenario discussed: raising the county share from 8% to 12%), which staff estimated could generate about $324,000 in additional revenue if implemented and collected at projected levels.
On personnel costs, staff said the county included a 3% salary increase for all employees and added a county-funded resource-development grant manager to track grants including opioid-related funds. Staff also noted a modest increase for Commonwealth's Attorney staffing and discussed state budget language that has required some localities to subsidize attorney costs related to body-camera implementation unless a local agreement is reached.
Other items covered included the county's regional partnerships (Mount Rogers CSB and the regional library), proposed contributions to airport hanger improvements, and the capital-improvement program (CIP). Staff said the proposed budget holds the real-estate tax rate steady and that the committee expects to use limited carryover or up to about $500,000 of prior funds to cover a projected roughly $1,000,000 shortfall rather than raise the tax rate.
The meeting concluded when the board moved and seconded to adjourn; the Chair called a roll and members responded in the affirmative.
