Martinsville budget hearing gives residents May 26 input window

Martinsville residents have a May 26, 2026, public hearing window to weigh in on the city's proposed FY 2026-27 budget before council takes final action.

The city notice says the hearing begins at 7 p.m. City budget materials describe a proposal built around significant spending reductions, including a hiring freeze, reduced school funding compared with current-year expectations, lower outside-agency funding, and reduced travel, training, and office supply spending.

City Manager Rob Fincher's budget presentation also points to a remaining shortfall after nearly $3 million in proposed cuts. The proposal recommends raising the real estate tax rate by $0.09 to $0.84 per $100 of assessed value.

For the Martinsville and Henry County desk, the hearing matters because it ties basic city services, employee staffing levels, school support, and property-tax bills into one decision cycle. Residents who want their comments in the record should use the May 26 hearing or the city's posted budget-contact channels.

Source: City of Martinsville News Flash notices, "Public Hearing for Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget Set for May 26" (posted May 19, 2026) and "City Manager Presents Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget to Council" (posted April 29, 2026), martinsville-va.gov.