Updated: Alleghany Board Of Supervisors Passes Budget Then Allocates $7500 To Theatre A Divided Board Decides To Half Fund Masonic Theatre's Request By Jerry E. Clark   Low Moor, VA (June 14, 2016) - The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors passed its 2016-2017 fiscal year general fund budget of a bit more than $32 million tonight ($32,650,750), then added a provision after that approval which would direct the county administrator to reallocate $7500 to the Masonic Theatre. The theatre had hoped for $15,000, but it was not to be. In fact, the measure only passed on a 4-3 vote with members Shannon Cox, Cletus Nicely, and James Griffith voting no. In other action, the board: - approved the wastewater service agreement between it and the town of Clifton Forge on a unanimous vote. - raised water and sewer rates for $1 per month staring July 1, 2016. - increased the county's real estate tax rate by two cents, from 69 cents to 71 and held its current rate on personal property taxes to $5.95 per $100 of assessed valuation. The Supervisors appeared unprepared to deal with the Masonic Theatre budgetary issue, despite pleas from at least two officials of the theatre at its previous meeting. They cited the increase in local economic activity, the massive investment and jobs already funded by the operation and other items in their statements to the board. The money for the theatre allocation does not represent an addition to the county's budget; rather, the funds to be spent on the theatre item will come from a delay in hiring a new county finance director's position, the cost of which is approximately $7667 per month. During the discussion, Sheriff Kevin Hall told the board that, when it was suggested that his office get an additional $7500, that that amount wouldn't "make or break us. You are here to decide on the theatre," he suggested. "You are like our mom and dad - we'll come back for funds if we need them. We've already come to grips with what has happened to us." But a majority of the board didn't seem to agree with this humble assessment from the sheriff, and decided to cut the requested Masonic Theatre request to $7500 - or alternatively said, put in $7500 from what originally was zero for the theatre.

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