[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6570847,"mediaKeyId","5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd","parentId",5379351,"title","Surry County opens public hearing on FY 2025–26 budget proposing 71¢ real‑estate rate, raises audit and debt concerns","audioSeconds",1130,"startMs",2050000,"endMs",3180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd&start=2050&end=3180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd/thumbnail_2050000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6570847/Surry-County/Virginia/Surry-County-opens-public-hearing-on-FY-202526-budget-proposing-71-realestate-rate-raises-audit-and-debt-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570847-5e5e605ae8153c4589e4c68da88dc353/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437736&Signature=bnqrxNtQjRssckZleAEj7pRa4Gk5bZoX7DqVJhx3Ck04izpXGxg72VHwWNyVI8Dm6FS8Ba1R3~tGeu9eks0xtl~WmvCqYMgffVVTIlTjaR798L4tVG6XS-od4YVF3nTYe1cUXS3ZhBzxGbq-J5heF1H27wzibELAIpjleBtlo77tarETwu-tc7r6OKAfgG0eM1X32dM13nnY5ncdnEdZCQdNDOpdVzjF~SnR~GvPRpmRz9NHeqJW1hJ7ZnbRHbcMHfyuYOBlBvzqQ0ZVawfO9TxbXAKW5eUiOAPD2rIAdVqFHAndBBAxihmre7VM~C2Px1HkwsK~9EdxKPp4wfUL-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Surry County","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Surry County officials opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, which county staff described as $62,490,000 for all funds and $36,790,000 for the general fund. The proposed real‑estate tax rate is 71 cents per $100 of assessed value, and county staff said the plan includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for most county employees and about $448,000 in operational support to the school division plus $135,000 for school transportation capital planning.

County Administrator (presenter) described the budget as reduced from the prior year because several one‑time capital projects concluded, and said the proposal includes roughly $1.1 million in one‑time personal‑property billing revenue allocated to a revenue stabilization fund. Staff also described a one‑year approach to the capital improvement plan (CIP) to allow additional review before multi‑year commitments.

During the public hearing, several residents questioned the timing of certain projects and the county's financial picture. Susan Corbello (Claremont District) asked for clarification: “So are these numbers $4 or are these numbers $3.75? Because if you add up these columns, they don't match these totals. So I'm a little confused.” Corbello also said the 2023–24 audit had not yet been posted and urged caution on large lease or borrowing commitments until the audit is completed.

Commenters raised specific debt concerns about a proposed community project that has been discussed publicly: multiple speakers said the county is already carrying significant debt and questioned plans to borrow for new amenities. One commenter said the county carried about $23.28 million in debt and said adding $24 million would be “dangerously close to $50,000,000 in debt for a small county of approximately 6,000 people.” Another speaker called the proposed borrowing “ludicrous.” Dr. Shea (Surry District) said he had “serious issues with debt funding” but thanked staff for the budget work.

County Attorney Perkins told the board that the county posted notices on its website extending the audit completion date: an earlier notice extended the date to April and a later notice extended it to July 1, 2025; the notices also were posted in the government center's public notices cabinet. Perkins said the postings keep the county in compliance with state requirements for audit posting.

Board members took no final vote on the budget at the hearing; staff said the board is scheduled to reconvene to adopt the FY2025–26 budget and remaining tax rates on May 8. The public hearing was opened and then closed as part of the meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Surry County Board of Supervisors\tMay 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Surry County officials opened a public hearing on the proposed FY2025–26 budget, presented as $62.49 million for all funds and $36.79 million for the general fund and proposing a 71¢ real‑estate tax rate.","taxTitle","Surry County, Virginia","taxId",38133,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6570853,"Riverside says Smithfield hospital will open in January 2026, outlines services and hiring plans",1035,915000,1950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd&start=915&end=1950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6570853/Surry-County/Virginia/Riverside-says-Smithfield-hospital-will-open-in-January-2026-outlines-services-and-hiring-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570853-d75aa5f6b02a734177efdbaa1fe8b2e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437736&Signature=IohgVT44rEeimAr2emWqBSKjE8kB92mPvIzD8Zh2HLKVsrGM58CSHsbGVe7Rbik6-vdHdKnX9J2fnY1EqlofxbytbVd~bGW9BB6s81BGvHSHMvrb3eE1v9I2-OSt64jU0fh3vJJWu3Mq9ytputw-f9GT9sbaKsTBqQBOS8BE8NAdZjdoVMEgkw5eeTUq1UeJ8ggIbdflKvWGcBEWPR2a~enpdjKQWVg5drGC-5dsApq2iQBTSQZZgSOcHyPNVJ2htHUQyqiLW9bzY3QS6tm0GMviBz-X~-l78QePUYB4WHPmDFV1~GwP3kcuowUtSdeU~dqaIk1FrR2QTmaYQkKiJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Magalino, president of Riverside Smithfield Hospital, told the Surry County Board of Supervisors that construction on the new Smithfield hospital is nearing completion and the facility is scheduled to open in January 2026.

The hospital will include 50 inpatient beds — 32 medical‑surgical, 12 intensive‑care and six future obstetric beds — four operating rooms, two procedure rooms and a full, 24‑hour emergency department with diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound and X‑ray). Magalino said Riverside also will open the Jameson Longford Medical Office building on the same campus in August 2025, with about 20,000 square feet and roughly 40 exam rooms for outpatient specialties and physical therapy.

Magalino said the project responds to persistent access problems in Isle of Wight and Surry counties, which Riverside and county staff described as federally designated medically underserved areas where many residents travel more than 30 minutes for inpatient or emergency care. “We are now about 6 to 8 months out from opening,” Magalino said, adding that Riverside records show more than 6,000 residents from the relevant ZIP codes currently travel annually to Riverside facilities for care.

Riverside outlined services it plans to provide locally: general medicine, emergency care, cardiac and vascular care, neurology (stroke), general surgery, orthopedics and follow‑up outpatient services. The system also emphasized telemedicine capabilities to supplement in‑person specialists as the hospital builds patient volume and recruits permanent physicians.

On staffing, Magalino said Riverside expects to recruit more than 200 positions over the next six to eight months and that recruitment will proceed in phases — leadership, then supervisory and frontline staff. She said some physician specialties will begin as rotations from Riverside’s Newport News providers until local full‑time hires are in place; the hospital has already recruited a total‑joint surgeon who will start in August.

Board members thanked Riverside for the presentation and for the hospital’s planned local jobs. Supervisor Hardy noted the emergency response time benefits of a nearby facility; Supervisor Pierce highlighted workforce opportunities for local graduates.

Magalino and county officials said Riverside is scheduling patients for the new clinics and will share contact information as it becomes available. The board did not take any formal action on the presentation.","Riverside Health System told the Surry County Board that Riverside Smithfield Hospital will open in January 2026 as a 50‑bed facility with a 24/7 emergency department, outpatient clinics and a medical office building opening in August; the system plans to recruit about 200 positions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6570842,"Votes at a glance: board adopts six‑year secondary road plan and approves flags at half staff; agenda and consent adopted",391,4061000,4452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd&start=4061&end=4452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5379351-9f49a0c3ae0d270c4df49db958ced0dd/thumbnail_4061000.jpg","/articles/6570842/Surry-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-board-adopts-sixyear-secondary-road-plan-and-approves-flags-at-half-staff-agenda-and-consent-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570842-afd0b65696a2d9658489c9e375470082/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437736&Signature=fgFzIqiBVQFsUhqzE-Pvli4wFFSO~9gzd91yhlxZ9qjqS9yyNbfwgqbTigMDQgjgLbgAfe2vzVUxFui7KpiKK6Iraw6vOHGDJe~SGQ9-KV0p97OeSNe1JKpau7~r5NmoVO1RR2Vui2BC7K84d~D4MHdJ1qFEvl2rGtA3UHOpkIVsWNhtD0sOJZP77e3Zihb7mioi5xsjJCB8L2ZKDZjFd~u2yt284bcZgdVh68kK4d7Cv9tKkm0kWzcIngUlItj2Aac7ZNUqJMHQ-ZHzkvOsRmHz~crJrh3k9eczYLFBUs5JTOsmXVvhQU~juE7UJdYDAI9wJJcjKWKLNItFWixEyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Surry County Board of Supervisors approved several formal actions during the May meeting: the board adopted its meeting agenda, approved routine consent items, authorized submission of the county's proposed six‑year secondary road improvement plan, and approved a motion to fly county flags at half staff in honor of the late Laura P. Ruffin.

The board adopted the meeting agenda and then approved the consent agenda, which the clerk identified as including a Sussex Service Authority contract for fiscal year 2025–26 and accounts payable items listed on the agenda. The consent items were adopted by voice vote with no recorded roll call.

On the six‑year secondary road improvement plan, staff described projected VDOT allocations for fiscal years 2026–2031. The board approved the plan and authorized submission of a supporting resolution. Supervisor Pierce moved to approve the plan and authorize signature of the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried. Staff stated the total projected allocation over the six‑year period is $116,509.

The board also approved a motion to fly Surry County flags at half staff in remembrance of Laura P. Ruffin, who served the county's schools for more than 50 years. Supervisor Pierce moved the flag motion; it was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Votes taken during this meeting were recorded by voice as \"Aye\" or \"Opposed\" in the public record; individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript supplied for this report.","The Surry County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution supporting the VDOT six‑year secondary road improvement plan (FY2026–2031) with projected allocations totaling $116,509 and also voted to fly county flags at half staff for the late Laura P. Ruffin; the board adopted its meeting agenda and routine consent items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Surry County opens public hearing on FY 2025–26 budget proposing 71¢ real‑estate rate, raises audit and debt concerns

Riverside says Smithfield hospital will open in January 2026, outlines services and hiring plans

Votes at a glance: board adopts six‑year secondary road plan and approves flags at half staff; agenda and consent adopted