The Shadow
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – Covington City Council on Tuesday held a brief public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 city budget and fee schedule, hearing appeals for more school funding and small business tax relief before moving on to proclamations, appointments, and an update on major city projects. The June 2 public hearing and work session were held at City Hall.
Speaking on behalf of the joint school system, Jay Woodson of South Carolton Drive said school leaders had collaborated with council, the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, and division leadership to prepare a reasonable budget and had not requested additional local funding since the systems merged. He said the end of state merger aid and inflation had forced the division to cut about $2.5 million, largely by eliminating positions.
“Those are jobs that people won’t get, and new families that won’t be moved into our locality,” Woodson said. He urged council to search the budget “with a fine-tooth comb” for additional school funding, arguing that strong schools, updated facilities, and extracurricular offerings are key to economic growth.
Charles Anderson, of West Locust Street, asked council to consider tax relief for small businesses, citing recent losses on Main Street and disruption from gas prices that has limited operations at least one business. “We need business here in town,” he said, calling for “some kind of break” to help small firms stay open and preserve city revenue.
No other citizens spoke, and council closed the hearing and proceeded with the work session.
Council approved a proclamation naming Dec. 19, 2026, as National Wreaths Across America Day in Covington and advanced a group of ordinances and resolutions for budget appropriations and tax authorizations to the June 9 regular meeting. Members also agreed to reappoint Susan Wolf to the Alleghany County Department of Social Services Board extending her service onward from the partial term she began which expired June 3, 2026, and approved minutes from recent meetings and budget work sessions.
In his report, city manager Allen Dressler praised staff at Cedar Hill Cemetery for maintaining the grounds for Memorial Day and noted new paving in the cemetery, with additional work planned in nearby neighborhoods. He reviewed a busy recent weekend that included graduation, a slow-pitch softball tournament, strong farmers market turnout, a bluegrass concert at the Jackson River Sports Complex, and a Covington Lumberjacks baseball game at Casey Field that drew an estimated 750 fans and concluded with fireworks. Looking ahead, he outlined plans for the community’s VA 250
celebration, including three days of events at the sports complex and a Roanoke Symphony performance at the Historic Masonic Theatre on Flag Day.
He also reported that a long-running consent order on the city’s wastewater treatment plant had been lifted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality after investments in an equalization basin and sewer rehabilitation. Other project updates included progress on the South Alleghany Avenue sidewalk, the Rayon Bridge work, and continued Columbia Gas line upgrades, with restoration and paving to follow.
During council comments, members discussed resident complaints about groundhogs in some neighborhoods and tight parking and maneuvering issues for large vehicles in the lot across from the mall. Staff said the city does not remove wild animals but that private wildlife contractors can be used, and the city manager said the parking lot layout and striping would be reviewed.
Council adjourned with no additional new business.
