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Board hears budget committee requests: deputy clerk supplements, school funding and recommendation to remove animal tag mandate
Summary
Budget committee presented multiple items including salary‑supplement requests for deputy clerks (9 in General District Court; 4 in Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court), school budget figures (3,461 enrolled students; county contribution $11,482,849; governor's proposal $12,751,217) and a committee recommendation to remove the Smyth County animal tag mandate pending legal review.
County Administrator Shawn Utt summarized the Budget Committee reports to the full Board on March 26, highlighting multiple personnel and school funding issues that will influence the FY27 budget process.
Utt said the committee reviewed requests from clerks for salary supplements for deputy clerks — nine positions in General District Court and four in Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court — and that Judge Lyle described growing workloads across dockets. "The workloads have all increased and salaries have not followed suit," the report said. Chilhowie District Supervisor Mike Sturgill expressed conditional support for supplements if they can be accommodated in a tight budget.
On education, School Board Superintendent Dr. Brad Haga reported current enrollment of 3,461 students, "33 kids below the budgeted amount for this year," and recommended a 2% bonus for staff. School Board Director of Finance Julie Bear said the current Smyth County contribution in the proposed School Board budget is $11,482,849, and the Governor's proposed state budget would increase that figure to $12,751,217.
Utt and the committee discussed other items including HVAC needs in court facilities and an appeal from Kegley Trucking Company that staff will research under Virginia Code. The Budget Committee made a recommendation to remove the county animal tags mandate and asked the County Administrator to ensure that action would not conflict with state code or the dangerous dog registry; the committee voted to forward the recommendation to the Board.
