BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court will conduct the second reading of its fiscal year 2022 budget in a meeting June 16. The $10,046,488 budget is a $765,000 increase over last year’s budget.

Judge/Executive Colby Kirk conducted the first reading of the budget in the fiscal court’s May regular meeting.

The budget includes pay increases for employees and more money for the Martin County Tourism Commission, Roy F. Collier Community Center and the animal shelter.

Specifically, the budget calls for pay raises for county employees who have been in their positions for at least one year. Those raises include road and bridge employees and 911 dispatchers from $11.30 an hour to $14; the 911 director from $28,000 a year to $38,480; road and bridge supervisor from $43,178 to $44,928; occupational tax administrator from $28,422 to $35,609; and the finance officer from $37,000 to $38,000.

The Martin County Tourism Commission will be receiving a financial boost with the fiscal court pledging $34,000 in addition to paying for the installation of new heating and cooling system in the Historical Martin County Courthouse. Last year the tourism commission received $4,692.

The fiscal court has committed $35,000 to Roy F. Collier Community Center, an increase from the $31,000 last year.

Kennel supplies for the animal shelter more than doubled from $6,000 last year to $12,500 in the upcoming budget.

Martin County Senior Citizens Center will get $50,000 again this year, and park maintenance will increase from $85,000 to $92,000.

The budget includes the following areas: General Fund — $1,942,495; Road Fund — $1,909,670; Jail Fund — $560,487; Local Government Economic Assistance (LGEA) — $96,578; State Grant Fund — $1,000,959; Federal Grant (PRIDE) Fund — $710,770; Solid Waste Fund — $107,250; Occupational Tax Fund — $782,689.25; HUD Fund — $264,148; Emergency Dispatch 911 Fund — $575,249; Clerk’s Permanent Storage Fund $5,020; Federal ARPA Fund — $2,091,132.