The Appomattox County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, Jan. 18, to discuss various items, including raises for county employees, fundraisers to help the reopened animal shelter, a cigarette tax and damaged mailboxes from the recent snowstorm.

County Administrator Susan Adams presented various scenarios for bonuses or raises to determine the form of increases for county employees. Chairman Samuel Carter is suggesting this increase to recognize the county employees’ work during the pandemic.

Discussion regarding where the funds would be appropriated from revealed that there is a healthy reserve fund to pull from so as not to cause a raise in taxes. This raise would counter the rise in cost of living and inflation.

Board members raised concerns that if a raise, it would cause an increase in the budget next year. The supervisors decided that the bonus category would be selected as a one-time transaction for full- and part-time employees in the amount of $86,875.

The supervisors also briefly discussed the adoption of a cigarette tax. No other area counties have created a board/collecting agency regarding this form of taxation; therefore, the board is not pursuing this at this time until more critical information is brought forth.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.