County Approves Major Funding Boost for Local Projects

In a recent government meeting, the Economic Development and Tourism Department announced the receipt of $45,100 in state funds from the Creative Communities Partnership grant, aimed at supporting local arts organizations. This funding requires a local match, which has already been secured in the budget adopted in May. Additionally, the department has obtained $16,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation's DMO marketing grant, which also necessitates a local match of $12,864, already appropriated.

The department is requesting the allocation of these funds for advertising in the 2025 Virginia bridal guide. Furthermore, they seek to carry over $57,715 in unspent Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) funds for a delayed signed project involving the towns of Shenandoah, Stanley, and Moray, as plans are still being finalized.

The meeting also addressed a supplemental appropriation of $90,000 made in fiscal year 2023 for the implementation of new software by the Commissioner of Revenue, with $30,000 remaining unspent. The board is requested to appropriate this amount from the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) fund balance.

In fiscal year 2024, the school board is set to receive $1,313,497 from the state, which will fund a 3% pay raise for staff, cover rising health insurance costs, and support the hiring of three new positions. The local match for this pay raise is $255,180, which the board plans to transfer from unallocated funds left in reserve.

The sheriff's office is seeking $75,000 from the general fund balance to purchase body-worn cameras after their grant application was denied. The total cost for the cameras is $223,485, to be paid over a five-year lease agreement. The board expressed support for this request, emphasizing the importance of accountability and safety for law enforcement personnel.

Overall, the appropriation requests will increase various budgets, including the general fund by $45,100, the tourism fund by $173,715, and the school operating fund by $1,568,677. The board is expected to finalize these requests in the upcoming sessions, with a focus on ensuring that funds are utilized effectively and in a timely manner.