Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Treasurer’s report shows strong overall balances but flags Smyth County water/sewer fund deficit; supervisors discuss tax and rate options
Summary
Treasurer Cameron reported March 31 balances and year‑to‑date expenditures and revenues; supervisors heard that the Smyth County Water Fund shows a negative balance and that general fund transfers have covered utility shortfalls, prompting discussion of potential rate increases, appropriations and public hearings to address budget gaps.
The county’s finance official, Cameron (Speaker 21), presented the March 31, 2026 financial report to the board, reporting bank and CD balances and year‑to‑date figures for expenditures and revenue. Cameron highlighted that the Smyth County Water Fund and certain utility accounts remain in a multi‑year deficit that the general fund has been bridging with transfers.
"The Smyth County Water Fund, that negative balance is actually a loss," Cameron said during the review, noting the utility fund has been operating with shortfalls in recent years. Supervisors discussed past write‑offs, the mechanics of PPTRA (personal property tax relief) flows, and the need to consider structural fixes such as raising utility rates, increasing revenues or cutting services. Members noted the county has exhausted one‑time federal funding (COVID, ARPA) and that draft FY27 budgets must be reconciled with potential state actions that could change required local school contributions.
The budget committee advanced several fourth‑quarter appropriations (county administration and school appropriations) and recommended scheduling public hearings on real estate tax increases, water/sewer utility rate increases, and solid waste rate adjustments. The board scheduled budget public hearings for May 21 after agreeing to present draft budgets at the May 14 meeting. Supervisors emphasized the narrow choices remaining: raise revenue, cut services, or pursue bonds for major capital needs such as water line replacement.
Provenance: topic introduced SEG 769; discussion, motions and scheduling run SEG 771–SEG 2521.
