Alleghany County commissioners approve 2025-26 budget, 3-2; debate over commissioner pay and recreation funding

Alleghany County commissioners approved the county's 2025-26 budget during a June budget meeting, passing the ordinance by a 3-2 vote after extended discussion about a $20,000 increase to the commissioners' budget and proposed redirects of funds to recreation projects.

The vote took place after a motion to approve the fiscal year budget was moved by Commissioner Garrison and seconded by Commissioner McGrade. Chair Reggie called the vote. Three commissioners voted in favor; Commissioners Bobby and Timmy voted against the budget.

County Manager Mr. Shipley reviewed updates to the proposed budget, saying staff added leftover state capital improvement (SCIF) funds from courthouse and transfer facility projects. Shipley said about $275,000 remained from courthouse SCIF money and that the county was awaiting grant paperwork to determine whether those funds must be returned to the grantor or could be used for further courthouse improvements. He also said two SCIF capital project allocations of $100,000 each were earmarked: one for a generator at the county building and one for the transfer facility, and estimated roughly $35,000 might remain that could help planning for transfer facility expansion.

During debate, several commissioners and members of the public questioned the proposed $20,000 increase to the commissioners' budget. One commissioner characterized the increase as a 56% rise and said much of that should instead be redirected to recreation, proposing amounts to be moved: $15,000, $25,000 and $14,000 were suggested in different remarks to support youth practice fields. Other commissioners clarified the $20,000 is a total board increase (not per person) and that, per the packet, the per-commissioner increase would move an individual stipend from about $5,000 to roughly $9,000.

Commissioners highlighted other contested line items including a sizable increase to the rescue squad and a large increase to the Chamber of Commerce budget. One commissioner said the county's overall budget had grown approximately $2 million from the prior year and warned of long-term sustainability concerns, citing the need to fund a transfer station estimated in discussion to cost between $2 million and $3 million.

A substantial portion of the meeting focused on recreation planning, specifically construction of practice ball fields. Commissioners and committee members described an active recreation committee process with multiple meetings and previous planning work. Committee members said they are coordinating with the Alleghany County School Board on a joint-use plan for roughly 2.3 acres of relatively flat land below the school bus garage. That plan, described as phase 1, would develop two playable fields with minimal grading and fencing as the primary near-term cost; phase 2 would consider additional fields, restrooms, concessions and lighting if both boards agree.

Officials said the school board has approximately $107,000 available for use and that a lien on part of the property had been released through staff work, allowing that money to be spent on site improvements. County staff and committee members said a memorandum of understanding would be updated to clarify field use and operations between county and school systems.

On fees, the board approved a revised county fee schedule, including adjustments to EMS transport charges and a proposed $50 charge for additional lift-assist/welfare check responses. EMS personnel said recent fee increases still fall short of Medicare-recommended levels in some lines but would improve revenue. The fee schedule passed 5-0.

The board also discussed the procedure for reopening the public comment period after it had been closed; county staff advised there is no statutory requirement that public comment be reopened and that reopening would require an affirmative vote of the board.

The meeting closed with directions to continue recreation committee work and to report additional details at a mid-month meeting. No formal final decision on the recreation projects occurred during this session beyond the clarification of plans and committee progress.