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Budget committee backs rollovers, opioid-abatement expansion and provisional CSA funding as county prepares tight FY27
Summary
Budget committee recommended rolling $38,009.30 for Rich Valley Fairgrounds into FY27, providing $26,000 in opioid-abatement direct-distribution funds to expand school-based workers, and a provisional $200,000 CSA allocation while staff pursue remaining CSA needs; members warned FY27 budget will be tight and announced a hiring freeze.
The Smyth County budget committee reported several recommendations to the full board, asking supervisors to amend prior grant/loan allocations and approve targeted uses of opioid-abatement funds and an initial CSA allocation.
Committee members said the EDA had spent all but $38,009.30 of a previously allocated $175,000 for Rich Valley Fairgrounds and asked that the remaineder be rolled into FY27 to allow unfinished projects to continue. "They have spent all but $38,009.30," the budget presenter reported. The committee recommended the rollover and the board approved the recommendation.
On opioid-abatement funds, the committee recommended $26,000 in direct-distribution funding to Communities in Schools to allow a worker in every school rather than only elementary schools. Committee members described the direct distribution as allowable under opioid-abatement rules and a way to expand school-based substance-use prevention.
A large CSA (Children's Services Act) budget amendment request (about $906,004.64) generated detailed discussion; committee members recommended initially approving $200,000 and returning with additional requests after staff and DSS refine projections. The committee also noted a separate $149,972 grant for a new behavioral-health court (grant funds, not county dollars) included in the amendment.
County staff and the committee warned that FY27 will be a challenging budget year given insurance increases and potential school funding requirements; staff said they had instituted a hiring freeze for general-fund positions and will continue departmental budget reviews.
