Dickenson County administrator presents $32,046,670 general fund budget; board schedules June 23 vote

The Dickenson County Administrator presented a proposed fiscal year 2027 general fund budget of $32,046,670 and told the board the plan is $722,004 higher than last year in both revenue and expenditures.

"The budget that you have before you and that we've got published right now for fiscal year 27, the total budget is 32,000,000 for our general fund. It's $32,046,670. This is $722,004 higher than last year in both revenue and expenditures," the Administrator said.

Why it matters: the Administrator said the largest upward pressures are state-mandated formulas and jail costs. "Our big hits we took this year was DSS. Our share to them is gonna be, you know, $467,000 more, and the school is $331,000 more," the Administrator said, and added that the regional jail population has driven higher costs.

The Administrator also said the budget includes state-supported 2% salary increases and that the county is net one full-time equivalent position fewer than last year due to a retirement. On the regional jail line the Administrator described increased costs, saying "we're taking about a $600,000 hit in regional jail cost," and later noting a $290,000 increase on that line as part of overall expenditure changes.

Board members pressed on timing and uncertainty tied to the state budget. The Administrator noted the General Assembly's schedule could change final numbers and said the county may need a budget amendment in July if state action changes mandated amounts: "it's possible we may have to come back in July with the budget amendment if we have any significant changes at the state level." The board agreed they were working with the best available state estimates when preparing the June 23 vote.

Other funds: the Administrator described three separate county funds — the general fund, a coal-and-gas road improvement fund reported as $2,850,500 (no change from the current year), and the E‑911 fund. On E‑911 the Administrator said the budget is roughly $1,000,000 and indicated an increase of about $27,270 from the current year; the transcript contains minor numeric garbling when cents were reported, so the precise cents figure is not specified.

Funding sources and staffing: the Administrator said E‑911 receives telephone-surcharge revenue and only a small state contribution; some dispatch employees are funded through the sheriff's office budget rather than directly from the E‑911 fund. "Of that amount, when we look at it, we do have some comp board funding, the employees that work in there out of the sheriff's office budget," the Administrator said.

Public comment and next steps: the Administrator opened a public-comment period and provided a call-in number for remote participation (276-333-0357). After a brief wait and noting two online viewers, the Chair closed the public-comment period with no callers. The board scheduled a formal vote on the budget for June 23.

Adjournment: a committee member moved to adjourn and another board member seconded; the transcript records the motion and second but does not record a formal vote tally or final outcome for the adjournment motion.

What was not resolved or remains unclear: the transcript reports two different regional jail figures ("about a $600,000 hit" and a $290,000 increase on the regional jail line) and contains garbled digits when the Administrator reported cents for the E‑911 budget; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or final tally for the adjournment motion.

The board is set to consider the budget and vote on June 23.