A moment from last year's Memorial Day parade in Marion.
A moment from last year's Memorial Day parade in Marion.
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Chilhowie dog park dedicated to late Smyth Sheriff's Office K9 handler
Dr. Peter Bruzzo pays his respects to the late Corporal Chris Paschal at a Friday ceremony in Chilhowie.
Officers from multiple agencies attended the ceremony.
Chilhowie Police Chief Andrew Moss unveils the monument rededicating the Chilhowie dog park.
The late Chris Paschal's wife, Kasey, and daughter, Keyleigh, share their reflections.
Chris Paschal with his new crime-fighting partner, Ben, in 2007.
When anyone asked Chris Paschal if he could help them, the answer was always yes.
Retired Smyth County Deputy Alan Morgan shared that reflection Friday as the Town of Chilhowie rededicated its dog park as the Christopher Kent Paschal Memorial Dog Park.
Morgan said, “Chris Paschal couldn’t turn a blind eye to anything.”
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office corporal died trying to help people who had wrecked during an ice storm on Interstate 81. Chris was off duty that winter morning in 2009, traveling with his wife, Kasey, and daughter, Keyleigh. As he tried to stop, the Paschals’ vehicle lost traction on the ice. He sustained critical head injuries.
Chris died Jan. 4, 2009, at the age of 37.
Chris’ life of service began with the then Chilhowie Rescue Squad, said Morgan, who noted that the young man was then over the top when he got an officer’s position with Saltville Police Department. He went on to take a position with the sheriff’s office, where he served on the tactical response team, the dive team, and was a K9 handler.
Chris had a special bond with his K9, Ben. His wife Kasey told about an occasion when Chris had to leave home in his cruiser for a meeting without Ben. Ben then paced and whined, showing the bond between officer and K9.
Chilhowie Police Chief Andrew Moss thought of the K9 connection when trying to think of the best way to honor Chris’ memory. The dog park sprang to mind. The monument outside the dog park, which is right off Interstate 81, features an etching of Chris and Ben.
Morgan spoke of Chris coaching Little League football, hoping to shape young lives.
His joy was serving his community, Morgan said.
Chris was dedicated to God, his family, and his community, Morgan said. The power of his legacy is most visible today, he added, noting the crowd made up of sheriff’s deputies, Chilhowie, Marion, and Saltville police chiefs and officers, and state troopers along with local officials, family and friends.
To Chris’ family, Morgan said, “his love for you all was immeasurable.”
His daughter Keyleigh expressed her gratitude that after 17½ years people still show up for her dad.
“My Dad’s life was defined by service,” she said.
Keyleigh expressed gratitude to people for sharing their stories of Chris. She called them one of the greatest gifts of her life.
Keyleigh told the crowd she still finds pieces of her father in the person she’s becoming.
To her dad, she said, “There are no words to truly describe the ache in my heart…. She vowed to hold onto her father “as long as I’m breathing.”
Chris’ wife, Kasey, expressed her thanks to the Smyth County Sheriff's Office, saying, “They always showed up.”
The crowd fell into a moment of silence as the monument was unveiled. Moss said it etched Chris’ name into history in his hometown of Chilhowie, “where we always remember our warriors.”
The ceremony was held on May 15, National Police Officers Memorial Day. The rededication began at 3:30, Chris’ badge and radio number.
Chilhowie's Jayden Schwartz leaps up to catch the ball before throwing to first base for an out against Patrick Henry.
Chilhowie's Jayden Schwartz leaps up to catch the ball before throwing to first base for an out against Patrick Henry.
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Smyth County to hold public hearing on proposed real estate tax increase
Even with plans to eliminate at least eight full-time positions and maintain an ongoing hiring freeze for non-essential positions and cut budget requests by $4.8 million, Smyth County officials are still considering a real estate tax increase of up to 10¢.
The total county budget comes in at less than $134 million, which is down nearly $10.6 million from the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
County Administrator Shawn Utt has been cautioning members of the Board of Supervisors for months that the 2026-2027 budget will be challenging.
One of the first indications came when the county’s health insurance providers upped the county policy by 25%.
Yet even prior to that news, county officials saw that revenues were lagging behind projections and prompted the hiring freeze and spending restrictions.
Last Thursday evening, Utt told the supervisors that even more conservative projections are in place for Fiscal Year (FY) 27.
Officials are also grappling with the lack of a state budget. They’re basing current raises and more on the draft budget proposed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin. It has 2% across-the-board salary increases for state-funded positions. The supervisors have always raised locally funded positions at the same level.
Utt believes the 2% figure may increase to 3% or 3.5% in the final state budget, which would add about $100,000 to expenses.
Thursday, he also told the supervisors about eliminating positions through attrition and shifting employees among positions. He doesn’t anticipate layoffs. That move will save the county about $450,000.
Utt also noted the potential elimination of the Atkins EMS station, returning coverage of the area to Marion Fire-EMS and combining the staff and equipment with the Saltville EMS station. That would save about $100,000.
The county also plans to suspend its Capital Improvement Plan for FY27, which would save a little over $2 million.
School Challenges
Another major blow to the budget came from a state-mandated increase of local funding required for the school system of $1.27 million. Utt said the county will use about $310,000 from debt service savings to offset the expense, but that will leave $960,000 to cover.
Also, Utt said the General Assembly could up that total by $500,000. “Smyth County has little to no choice,” he observed.
Dr. Brad Haga, superintendent, reviewed the school system’s budget with the supervisors and earlier in the week for the school board. It makes up the largest part of the county budget coming in at nearly $71 million.
Before the school board, he reflected, “Rural localities get hit the hardest.”
Haga pointed to work being done by the Coalition of Rural and Small Schools of Virginia, which is striving to address inequalities. Haga noted that Washington and Wythe counties aren’t required to contribute as much local funding to their school systems.
The coalition points out that despite having declining enrollments and fewer fiscal resources, the state is pushing for more local funding from rural school systems. The coalition is urging the adoption of a funding formula that takes such factors into account.
For Smyth County, Haga said the FY27 budget will be based on an enrollment of 3,417 students. As of March 30, he said the system’s average daily membership, the figure used for state funding, came in at 3,456. The FY26 budget is based on 3,497.
Since 2007-08, the school system has experienced population decline every year except for one, 2012-2013 when it gained 36 pupils. In 2007-08, the schools enrolled 4,881 students.
“Enrollment keeps me up at night,” the superintendent said.
Haga noted that the school system plans to continue its State Virtual School, which last year generated revenue of $190,993.58.
The system is also looking at establishing an in-county alternative to the Interchange Therapeutic Alternative School in Washington County for students who can’t adapt to traditional classrooms.
The local alternative, Haga said, will save transportation costs and save the children hours on a bus each day.
He acknowledged the impact of climbing fuel prices, saying, “The diesel prices are choking us, but the buses have to run.”
Like the county, Haga said the school system is assessing personnel options when people leave or retire.
However, he said, to bolster high school teams, the system is looking at adding coaching supplements to support middle school baseball, softball, and wrestling.
Currently, the school system works with 788 students who have disabilities, 46 English learners, 19 students who are homeless, and 37 who are in foster care.
Overall, Haga said the system is seeing an increase in special education needs.
Noting that the school system was hit by a 12.5% health insurance increase, Haga said, “This year has been a perfect storm.”
Overall, the schools receive less than $48 million in state funds, about $6 million in federal funds, which has dropped by $566,427, more than $14 million in county funds, and about $3 million in other local revenue.
“We’ve got hard decisions to talk about,” Haga said.
Like the overall county budget, the school system budget is subject to change depending on the final state budget.
Officials do not anticipate having state figures in time for the budgets’ adoptions. The local budgets must be in place when the new fiscal year begins July 1.
Collective bargaining
While Gov. Abigail Spanberger has received considerable criticism for vetoing legislation that would have established collective bargaining for local government and school system employees, the news was met with a sigh of relief from many local officials.
Smyth County had formally opposed the legislation, which Utt projected would cost the county $3 million to $4 million.
Public Hearings
In addition to the proposed real estate tax increase, the budget also includes a proposed increase of 5% for water utility rates and 10% for sewer utility rates as well as 5% increase in Solid Waste Tipping Fees.
Utt explained that for every penny the real estate tax is raised, $200,000 in revenue is created. A 10¢ increase would bring in about $2 million in new revenue.
If approved, the solid waste disposal fee would generate about $50,000, while the 5% water rate increase would bring in $85,000 and the proposed sewer fund increase would add $100,000.
Public hearings will be held on each of the proposed increases as well as the school and county budgets on Thursday, May 21, at 5 p.m. or shortly after. Sign-up sheets to comment are typically located in the hallway outside the supervisors’ meeting room on the first floor of the county administration building at 121 Bagley Circle in Marion.
Utt said budget adjustments will continue to be made based on final revenue projections. He anticipated the county budget will be adopted in June.
To the supervisors, Utt said, “It’s going to be a sobering set of discussions.”
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Saltville, Marion, Chilhowie council races begin to take shape
With less than a month until the filing deadline, town council races are beginning to take shape in Chilhowie, Marion, and Saltville. Each council has multiple seats up for election this November with two also selecting their mayor.
In Saltville, the race for mayor has changed in recent days.
According to Voter Registrar Sandy Elswick, earlier this spring Mayor Cheri Fullen had filed to seek her seat for a second term, but on Thursday withdrew. Fullen said she’d comment on her decision at a later date. On Friday. Eugene Call, who is now serving on the town council, filed to run for mayor.
For the three open seats on the town council, incumbent Cary Sauls has submitted his paperwork to be on the ballot as has Stephen Hennegar.
Councilmen Ryan Comer hasn’t yet filed for re-election. The other open council seat is currently held by Call.
In Marion, four seats are up for election. Council members Larry Carter, Susie Jennings, and Tricia Spencer have filed the necessary paperwork and signatures to seek re-election.
Councilmember Debra Hayes also plans to seek re-election but has yet to complete the process.
Newcomers to council races, Gregory Taylor and Mavis Williams, have also qualified to run for the Marion seats.
Candidates in Marion must collect 125 qualified signatures to accompany their applications. That’s not the case in Chilhowie and Saltville.
In Chilhowie, three seats are open.
Council members Robert Jeter and Brent Foster have filed to run. Incumbent Shannon Donnelly has not at this point.
Newcomer Jeff Jones is also seeking one of the seats.
Mayor Gary Heninger has filed to seek that leadership post again. He’s being challenged by Paige Wright.
The deadline to file is June 16.
Individuals interested in seeking a seat may learn more by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections website or going to the Voter Registrar’s office on the fourth floor of the county administration building in Marion.
