Dickenson County adopts FY2027 budget, schedules quick amendment after state action

Dickenson County supervisors adopted a fiscal-year 2027 budget at their June 23 meeting while flagging that state budget changes will require a near-term local amendment.

County staff reported a FY2027 total budget of roughly $32,046,670 and noted major year-over-year increases driven by the regional jail (about $290,000), the Department of Social Services (about $467,000) and education (about $331,000). The local budget initially included a 2% salary increase, but staff acknowledged that the General Assembly approved a higher state-level raise (3.5%); staff said the county will revise local figures after the governor signs the state budget.

During the meeting the board completed the sequential motions necessary to adopt the FY2026 budget amendment, handling conflicts by temporarily removing appropriations tied to the Commissioner of Revenue, Emergency Management and the Sheriff so those votes could be taken separately. The board then returned to general appropriations and recorded votes, including noted abstentions where members declared conflicts for specific items.

The county scheduled a special meeting for June 30 to adopt any amendments required by the finalized state budget and to reconcile differences in compensation and school funding.

Staff said no new positions were included in the FY2027 budget and that many line items were reduced to keep the budget balanced without raising taxes. The board emphasized stewardship of taxpayer funds in remarks during the meeting.

Board members completed the required roll-call and voice votes to approve the FY2026 amendment items and the FY2027 general appropriations, delegating the county administrator and treasurer routine closing tasks for fiscal-year wrap-up.