Budget OK’d; Williams and Harris vote no

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS), in somewhat of a surprising action, voted 3-2 to approve the $37,076,000 fiscal year 2023-2024 budget (FY 23-24) on Thursday, April 20. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

The surprising action was not that MCBS approved the budget, but that it was not approved on a 5-0 vote. Supervisors have been working on the budget for months and there has been very little objection.

There are no real estate or personal property tax rate increases in the budget, which, when presented, always creates discussion and discontent. However, at the meeting Thursday discussions over salaries for county and school officials brought a split amongst the board.

Saluda District supervisor Don Harris said he did not bring his “flak jacket,” but probably would wish he had after bringing up the topic of employee salaries.

The budget calls for a 5% increase in salaries for all school and county employees with a contingent that it could go to 7% if the General Assembly (GA) and governor agree to appropriate more funds to teacher and county salaries.

County Administrator Matt Walker told the board it would probably be June before the GA approves a state budget, which determines how much state aid the county will receive from the state and if there is funding for a 7% salary increase.