The Town Budget

Budget Preparation for Upcoming Fiscal Year

It’s hard to believe, but it is already the time of year to begin preparations for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Ms. Eller and I have worked diligently to produce a draft budget that I feel is reflective of the sharply rising costs of everything from fuel to insurance premiums to building supplies while also working to make the most efficient use possible of taxpayers’ hard earned money.

All community organizations requesting town funding met the submission deadline of March 6th and their requests are included in the preliminary draft budget.

If you have ideas or suggestions for your staff as we this process, please contact me or Ms. Eller so that we can incorporate them into our planning.

In the April 9, 2026 report

Budget Preparation for Upcoming Fiscal Year

It’s hard to believe, but it is already the time of year to begin preparations for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Ms. Eller and I will be starting the initial steps of gathering information and collecting staff inputs to start the first draft of the budget.

All community organizations requesting town funding met the submission deadline of last Friday and their requests are included in the preliminary draft budget.

If you have ideas or suggestions for your staff as we begin these initial steps, please contact me or Ms. Eller so that we can incorporate them into our planning.

In the March 12, 2026 report

Budget Preparation for Upcoming Fiscal Year

It’s hard to believe, but it is already the time of year to begin preparations for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Ms. Eller and I will be starting the initial steps of gathering information and collecting staff inputs to start the first draft of the budget.

I have sent out the request letter to the community organizations that you chose to fund in this current year’s budget. I have set a deadline of March 7th for them to submit their funding requests.

If you have ideas or suggestions for your staff as we begin these initial steps, please contact me or Ms. Eller so that we can incorporate them into our planning.

In the February 12, 2026 report

Public Hearing on 2024-25 Budget

You have in your agenda packet a a synopsis of the proposed 2024-25 budget ad announcing the public hearing on the budget on June 13. The ad was run in the Smyth County News on May 29 and June 5, 2024. Included in the synopsis were notices of the proposed utility, general fund increases and the decrease in the real estate rate. As you know an additional Public Hearing was held on the proposed new real estate rate on May 23 as required by the Code of Virginia. Now one appeared at that public hearing.

Following the public hearing the budget cannot be adopted until at least seven days have passed from the date of the budget public hearing. As a result the 2024-25 budget cannot be adopted anytime before 7:00 p.m. on June 20.

In the June 13, 2024 report

Formulation of 2024-25 Budget Proposal

Following Council’s Continued meeting on April 24 we made the necessary changes Council had directed on the budget. Those changes were reducing the Tourism Association to $4,000, Friends of Southwest Virginia to $1,000, the Chilhowie Garden Club to $1,000, and the Smyth County Imagination Library to $1,000. These changes reduced the Community Development Section of the General Fund for 2024 – 25 Fiscal Year Proposal by $8,900 from $78,980 to $70,080. This year’s Community Development Fund has $67,600 in it.

Additionally, we have set up the Continued Meeting regarding the Real Estate Rate. The Continued Meeting will be on May 23 at 7:00. As required by the Code of Virginia, as amended, the advertisement for this hearing will be placed in the Smyth County News on May 8, at least 14 days from the Hearing. You have a copy of that advertisement. The ad includes the four required steps in the Code namely the Assessment Increase, the Lowered Tax Rate, the proposed Effective Rate Increase, and the proposed Total Budget Increase.

Also attached in your agenda is the advertisement for the 2024-25 Budget proposal in the amount of $6,251,849. The advertisement will be run in the Smyth County News on May 29 and June 5. The hearing will be held at Council’s regular on June 13. The budget cannot be adopted less than seven days after the Public Hearing.

In the May 9, 2024 report

Public Hearing on 2023-24 Budget Proposal

You have in your agenda packet the Notice of Public Hearing advertised for the 2023-24 Budget in the amount of $5,853,009. As we have discussed this budget contains no American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Those funds are accounted for in a different account.

The budget was advertised in the Smyth County News on May 24 and May 31, in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Virginia, as amended. The proposed increases in water, sewer and garbage were also noticed in the same ad. Following the Public Hearing, the budget can be adopted no earlier than seven days after the hearing. So, the earliest date for adoption would be June 15. Council could choose that date or any date between June 15 and June 30 for adoption.

In the June 8, 2023 report

Public Hearing on 2022-2023 Budget

You have in your agenda packet an advertisement of the 2022-2023 budget synopsis. The synopsis was advertised in the Smyth County News on April 27 and May 4.

After weeks of preparation by staff, the budget letter and budget materials were presented to Council at its Continued Meeting on April 14 at a two-and-a-half-hour meeting. After evaluation and changes, Council authorized the budget to be advertised for Public Hearing at its regular meeting on May 12.

Following the Public Hearing Council could make changes, set up another Continued Meeting, or leave the budget as-is. The budget cannot be adopted until at least seven days have expired from the date of the Public Hearing. Unless some unforeseen contingency comes up, the budget for 2022-2023 could be adopted at Council’s regular meeting on June 9.

In the May 12, 2022 report

2022-23 Budget Process

Clerk Treasurer Marlene Henderson and I continue on moving forward on developing the 2022-23 Budget Proposal. Department Heads were asked to get their requests in by March 11 and most had their’s in by then. We are also not including any American Rescue Plan Act funding or projects, in the 2023 budget.

After the formulation is finished, and I send out a budgeted letter with all of the attachments, we will have a Continued meeting of Council after Council’s regular meeting on April 14. This has been the procedure we have used the past several years. After Council inputs into the budget we will advertise for a Public Hearing. Last year we had the Public Hearing in May and adopted the budget at the June meeting. The budget can only be adopted after a seven day minimum period after the Public Hearing. This year’s process could be similar, but all budget processes are difference and we will see how 2022-23’s plays out.

In the April 14, 2022 report

Letter to the County for Funding in the 2022-23 Budget

You have in your agenda package two letters dated February 16 from me to Smyth County Administrator Shawn Utt requesting funding for the 2022-23 budget. The first was for Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and the second for recreation. Chief David Haynes assisted me with the Fire and EMS letter, and Recreation / Special Events Coordinator Jeff Smarr the recreation letter.

Regarding Fire and EMS funding, as you can see we requested 72,500 in additional funding, or from $212,500 this fiscal year to $285,000. This year’s $212,500 in funding consists of $92,500 for the Fire Department and $120,000 for EMS. To County’s credit this funding has been increasing every year the past several fiscal years and was $100,000 not too long ago. David Haynes said this additional funding would allow hiring two additional employees, which would result in the staffing being fully completed with 24 hour employees, 8 (eight) hour employees and part time employees. While obviously, no decision has been made by the Board, we have heard preliminarily that a funding increase for the Department is being proposed.

Regarding Recreation funding we asked for an increase from $5,625 to $10,000. The letter explains how the Town’s offering have increased over the years from boys and girls basketball, cheer leading and football that served 261 youth in 2021, to additional services at the farmers market and music venues at the park along the Middle Fork of the Holston.

In the March 10, 2022 report