Wise County board hears public praise for transparency, discusses $4–5 million in possible cuts

A Committee member thanked a person named Brian and urged the Wise County Board of Supervisors to be more transparent, saying the conversation should reach newspapers and television rather than stay on social media platforms that can spread rumors. “This is the information that needs to get out, in the newspaper, on TV,” the Committee member said.

The Chair responded with support for local economic development and said the board is behind programs aimed at attracting new businesses. “Please know that this board is behind you, and these programs, these businesses that we are courting and are coming,” the Chair said.

Budget concerns dominated part of the discussion. The Committee member referenced earlier comments by another participant, Kathy, who had mentioned a potential $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 in cuts. “At this point in time, we're gonna have that discussion. I'll be honest at this point in time. I don't know the details of that,” the Committee member said, adding that the board intends to work toward aligning the budget even if the process is painful.

During the exchange, the Committee member raised the county's public transportation avenue and asked whether the board could partner with it to reduce additional transportation needs in Wise County. The Chair acknowledged the suggestion.

Participants also said a 1% item discussed at an earlier hearing should have been prefaced so the public would understand what it covered. The Committee member said such a preface might have avoided some of the earlier criticism.

The meeting moved from public comment and discussion into several procedural motions later in the session; those actions included restating motion 6297 and a proposal to change quarterly appropriations to monthly appropriations, and are covered in a separate article about motions and formal actions.