05/28/2026
KING WILLIAM COUNTY CITIZENS SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION:
Recent events surrounding the FY27 budget process and multiple removed agenda items raise serious concerns about transparency, communication, and financial oversight within county government. Over the past several weeks, concerns were raised during budget discussions by Supervisors Catlett and Robinson, that county finances were not being fully vetted before taxpayers were asked to absorb higher costs, recurring expenditures, and additional long-term staffing obligations.
Now citizens are learning about proposed FY26 budget transfer requests involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in reallocations, vacancy savings transfers, contingency funding, payroll overruns, overtime expenses, maintenance costs, and even $120,000 in payroll tax penalties. A separate Department of Social Services request reportedly involved an additional $93,273 internal reallocation that shifted funds away from overtime and benefits into other spending categories, including: vehicle purchases, office furniture and supplies, maintenance and renovations, travel and training expenses and other operational expenses.
Several entries reportedly stated the reallocations were necessary to address shortfalls within existing budget lines. Both agenda items were ultimately removed following questions and concerns being raised. The larger issue is no longer just the transfers themselves.
The growing concern is whether the Board of Supervisors is receiving critical financial information in a timely and transparent manner — or only after problems, overruns, reallocations, and corrective actions are already underway. That is not how proper oversight is supposed to function. The Board of Supervisors cannot effectively govern, budget, or protect taxpayers if major financial concerns are surfacing late in the process, after spending decisions have already occurred, or after internal corrections become necessary. Citizens should reasonably be asking:
When did county leadership first become aware of these issues? When were Board members informed? Why are major reallocations and corrections surfacing near the end of the fiscal year? How did payroll tax penalties reach $120,000? Why were these matters removed from the agenda? How many additional financial issues may still be unresolved? Are taxpayers being given the full financial picture before tax increases and spending expansions are approved?
Citizens should also remember that in late 2024, Supervisor Justin Catlett made a motion requesting a forensic audit of county finances — a motion that reportedly passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors. Yet many citizens are now asking why that audit has still not been acted upon administratively despite ongoing financial concerns continuing to surface months later. That question alone deserves a clear public answer.
This is not about attacking county employees, deputies, Fire & EMS personnel, DSS staff, or other frontline workers. Most employees are simply performing the duties asked of them. This is about accountability, transparency, internal controls, and whether elected officials — and ultimately taxpayers — are receiving accurate and timely information before decisions are made instead of after financial problems emerge. Public trust cannot exist without transparency. And transparency cannot exist when questions continue to surface only after votes are cast, funds are spent, and corrective action becomes necessary. Citizens should stay engaged, review public documents, and pay very close attention to upcoming meetings and discussions.
