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Franklin County residents urge alternatives to proposed 2026–27 budget and levies
Summary
At public hearings, dozens of Franklin County residents urged the Board of Supervisors to cut proposed hires and capital spending — not raise taxes — and pressed for transparency around consultant work and volunteer fire funding.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors opened public hearings April 14 on the proposed 2026–27 county budget and proposed tax levies, drawing a steady stream of residents who urged spending cuts, grant pursuit and clearer county communications rather than tax increases.
Residents highlighted specific budget items they said should be reconsidered. Dawn Kingrear, speaking for a group, said eliminating 18 proposed full-time positions would save about $1.7 million and recommended prioritizing 12 EMT and EMS positions to preserve rural response times. "Without them, response times in rural areas like Fairham and Glade Hill, they suffer," Kingrear said. She also urged deferring certain vehicle purchases and pursuing state and federal grants — including an 80/20 Virginia Recreational Trails grant and federal safe-streets funding — to narrow the county’s fiscal gap.
Several speakers criticized proposed tax increases. Doug Davidson thanked public safety staff but called proposed property, meals and equipment taxes "a disgrace," questioned the salaries of senior county and school administrators and urged the board to reduce payroll costs before raising taxes. "So I think that, before you start raising taxes on any of us ... you need to go and cut the salaries of those people," Davidson said.
School funding and local services were central themes. Multiple commenters — including PTO president Lauren Walk and teacher Shannon Brooks — urged the board to invest in teachers and school services. "Quality teachers and paraprofessionals deserve to be paid for their work as a way to attract and retain qualified professionals," Walk said. Brooks, who identified herself as a teacher, acknowledged taxes would rise but said she favored investing in EMS, schools, parks and aging services.
Other speakers pressed for procurement transparency and local spending. Patricia Sweat asked why the county hired the Berkeley Group for planning and zoning recommendations and requested details on fees and deliverables. Don Bertier, representing Hardy Volunteer Fire Company, said his station has not received a planned county allocation since 2019 and asked the board to restore funding or explain how the company could qualify for support.
Board chair closed the budget hearing after the public comment period and moved on to separate hearings on tax levies and a proposed meals tax. No formal appropriations or levy votes were taken at the hearing; the chair noted that budget entries do not become obligations until the Board adopts appropriations.
The board recessed to its regular meeting scheduled for April 21. The hearings provided the supervisors with a broad array of constituent recommendations — from rolling back proposed meal-tax changes to redirecting capital funds toward public-safety staffing and pursuing specific grant opportunities.
