The Shadow
LOW MOOR – Alleghany County is expecting a tough budget year.
Tuesday night, County Administrator John Strutner warned supervisors they will face some tough decisions as they formulate a 2012-2013 budget.
“We will be looking at a discouraging budget situation with the state. Everything I’ve seen from the governor on down does not look very encouraging to us,” Strutner said.
Budget requests will go out to county agencies and department heads within the next 30 to 40 days. The new budget year will take effect July 1.
Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled his $84.9 billion spending plan to the General Assembly’s money committees last month.
McDonnell’s proposal cuts nearly $800 million from specific areas, mainly public schools and health care. In the area of school funding, the governor wants to give a net increase of $438 million, but not replace $108 million in federal stimulus funding that schools in Virginia are currently using. In Alleghany County, that money was used to help provide teachers and other school employees with pay raises.
McDonnell is also proposing saving $109 million by not covering increased costs for school operating expenses, such as maintenance and utilities. His plan calls for school divisions to decide how to absorb those cost increases.
McDonnell’s proposals will be debated by the General Assembly when it convenes Jan. 11 for a 60-day session.
“It’s going to be a hard year and we’ll just have to work together to see what happens,” Covington District Supervisor Paige Morgan said after hearing Strutner’s assessment of the upcoming budget.
The board reorganized Tuesday night in its first meeting of 2012. Jackson River District Supervisor Steve Bennett was unanimously re-elected chairman. Clifton Forge West Supervisor Carolyn Barnette was unanimously re-elected vice chairwoman.
The board also unanimously approved an amendment to its meeting by-laws. The second meetings in the months of July, August and December have been eliminated. The board will meet on the first Tuesday of those months.
For the past two years, the board has cancelled the second Tuesday meetings in July and August due to vacation conflicts. The second Tuesday meetings in December were also cancelled in 2010 and 2011, due to their proximity to Christmas.
Tuesday marked the first meeting for newly-elected Falling Spring Supervisor Matt Garten. He replaces longtime supervisor Rickey May, who did not seek re-election to his seat in November.
“Congratulations and sympathy,” Barnette said to Garten. “Sometimes, you need both.”
In other business Tuesday night, supervisors:
– Recommended the appointment of Tara Craft (Jackson River District) to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The appointment will be made by Alleghany County Circuit Court Judge Malfourd W. Trumbo.
Craft would replace Mark Brankenridge, who resigned from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Crafts term would expire Oct. 31, 2013.
– Appointed Boiling Spring District Supervisor Shannon Cox to the Alleghany County-Covington Social Services Board.
Cox was appointed by a 6-0 vote with Clifton Forge East Supervisor Suzanne Adcock abstaining. Adcock was hired last year as director of social services for the county and city.
Cox replaces May on the Social Services Board. Her term expires June 30, 2013.
– Discussed an appointment to the Board of Building Code Appeals from the Jackson River District.
Bennett said incumbent Kevin Terrell has expressed a willingness to be reappointed. The board will consider Terrell’s reappointment at its Jan. 17 meeting.
– Approved a special-use permit for Walter D. Morris.
The permit will allow Morris to place a doublewide manufactured home on Donovan Street in Selma.
The property is zoned Residential R-2.
Shelly Mongold, county planner, said other manufactured homes are located near the currently vacant lot.
