State of the County Address

Each year, the county administrator provides a review of the county's accomplishments during the last meeting in December. Please find the current address below. You can also view a pdf of the summary letter from the county administrator here.

Summary

As 2025 has come to an end, I am filled with a sense of deep pride when reflecting on the success of King George County. This past year was my first complete calendar year as administrator of King George, and with that experience, my confidence in our beloved community’s future thriving has grown exponentially.

In 2025, county government faced many trials and also accomplished many goals. All of which were coordinated by our qualified staff who are dedicated to serving the residents of King George. Our resilient employees have overcome staffing shortages, but our team has persisted and maintained excellence in the county’s programs and services for our community.

While I am proud of all the accomplishments listed below, I am particularly fond of the partnerships and support for the youth of our community. Involving and supporting the next generation is a key ingredient to a prosperous future and I want to keep the momentum going into the upcoming year.

As we enter 2026, the county will continue to provide the excellent programs and services our residents have grown accustomed to receiving, as well as aim to reach new goals. We will continue to invest in our community with better resources for an improved quality of life for all our residents.

To achieve these goals, it will require continued collaboration and commitment. We must work together as a community, united in our common purpose, to maintain and enhance the qualities that uniquely make this county home to each of us. I am confident we can build an even stronger and brighter future for King George County.

Respectfully,
Matthew J. Smolnik
King George County Administrator

Top Accomplishments of 2025

Administration

Facilitated the earliest adoption and least cumbersome adoption of the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and the most expansive capital improvement plan in recent years
Strengthened the county’s administrative infrastructure by supporting modernized agenda management, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) tracking, and internal communication processes
Guided the development and revision of countywide initiatives/policies, including inventory management, job descriptions, employee procurement updates, personnel policies, and administrative procedures

Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office

Successfully coordinated the relocation and transition of the clerk’s office and record room to the new courthouse, ensuring minimal disruption of public services throughout a challenging move
Secured a grant from the Library of Virginia totaling $21,662.46 for the conservation of historic records, including inventory years 1721–1744 and wills years 1780–1804
Obtained and filled a new deputy clerk position funded by the compensation board with approval from the board of supervisors to support operations related to the upcoming sealing and expungement legislation

Finished second year of prorating personal property bills
Conducted a county reassessment of real estate values
Implemented system to receive information from Airbnb’s to collect transient occupancy tax

Community Development

Several staff members completed various certifications
Maintained an overall turnover rate of 7 business days in issuing permits
Issued 1,143 permits as of Nov. 1 and completed 3,666 inspections as of Nov. 10
Collected $495,175.85 in fees as of Nov. 10
Geographical Information Systems added fire hydrants, roads, addresses, and navigational aids from surrounding localities to the sheriff’s dispatch ID network software and mobile tablets
Created a current projects web map/app and added 750 past completed projects

Community Engagement

Launched newly redesigned and restructured county and tourism websites
Published first tourism visitor guide for King George and distributed statewide and the acquired the county’s first murals
Continued to launch new community engagement activities and initiatives, including KG Best of the Best, Food Truck Rodeo, KG Magnetic Moments, Luck of KG, Tic Tac Grow, “I Voted” Sticker Contest, KG Scarecrow Showdown, and more
Completed another successful tourism video project that elicited the participation of 150+ residents and visitors to showcase 35+ King George businesses
Increased social media engagement with nearly 1,000 new Facebook followers and 150 new Instagram followers for the county’s accounts

Economic Development

Through the Economic Development Authority (EDA), awarded scholarships for DECA students and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students at King George High School
Promoted King George County EDA/economic development department at various events in the region and across the commonwealth
Worked closely with the applicants throughout the legislative process for the approval of the Dahlgren West data center campus
Represented the King George business community with the development of the comprehensive economic development strategy plan for Planning District 16

Engineering

Completed the Circle to Courthouse water systems interconnect
Completed the Canterbury to Courthouse water systems interconnect
Finished the Old King George Middle School Demolition
Completed King George Courthouse

Finance & Procurement

Received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for both the county and the service authority for fiscal year 2023-2024 audit
Successfully implemented vendor automated clearing house (ACH) payments using a two-step verification process to reduce fraud and minimize paper checks
Procurement specialist earned the Virginia Contracting Associate Certification and payroll specialist earned the Virginia Payroll Certification.
Procurement team successfully orchestrated the move to the new courthouse.
Reconciled, requested, and received $809,301.70 in reimbursements for projects originally covered under the middle school bond but never requisitioned

Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services

Completed Opticom pre-emption project, making traversing intersections safer for responders and the public
Obtained Virginia Board of Pharmacy and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license to successfully open and operate an internal pharmacy per mandate
Completed county’s first fuel depot station
Have successfully responded to more than 3,962 calls as of Nov. 19
Conducted emergency operations center (EOC) and emergency management training with county leadership, constitutional officers and schools

General Properties

Badge reader system approved at the new courthouse
Site plans and bidding submitted and approved for new general properties building
Replaced boiler at the Revercomb Administration Building
Submit board room unit replacement for approval
Replaced the roof at the Roseland house
Replaced the grinder pumps at Smoot Library
Installed new security cameras at the Revercomb Administration Building and citizens center

Human Resources

Updated and standardized hiring, onboarding, and benefits processes
Led a county-wide effort in partnership with employees and department directors to review and update all county job descriptions

Information Technology

Procured, installed, and delivered 60 new warranty replacement desktops/laptops for county staff/911 dispatch officers/public PCs
Initiated the 1Password software for the key county positions, to ensure the continuity of government operations for each department
Completed IT security roadmap sections: business impact analysis/data classification-system sensitivity analysis/risk assessments for key county offices
Procured and installed new indoor/outdoor Meraki security cameras for the Revercomb Administration Building for an advancement in security
Upgraded all Windows 10 desktops/laptops to Windows 11, for security compliance
Rolled-out county cybersecurity awareness training for staff/completed criminal justice information services Recertifications

L.E. Smoot Memorial Library

Increased creation station hours
Instituted a fine-free policy on overdue materials
Collaborated with parks and recreation and the Friends of the Smoot Library to offer summer movies in the park
Increase in adult program offerings and attendance
Participated in the King George County Fall Festival and Caledon Trunk or Treat

Parks & Recreation

Constructed the Dahlgren Parks Master Plan
Acquired $15,000 in sponsor support for county special events
Received $74,000 in funding to build a tiered native plant garden on an eroded hillside at Cedell Brooks, Jr. Park
Awarded a $20,000 grant from National Recreation and Park Association for youth workforce development programs
Completed first summer extern program with eight KGHS students

Registrar’s Office

Finished 90 days of early voting
Processed a 56% turnout for November 2025 gubernatorial election
Hosted four officer of election training sessions
Held one special session of training for the new electronic pollbook’s
Conducted a work session with the Virginia Board of Election to revamp the general registrar certification classes
Instrumental in the development of a new voter registration system

Sheriff’s Office

Three deputies certified as commercial vehicle inspectors and one certified as a forensic science investigator
Participation in numerous community and youth-engagement programs
- Hosted two youth academies (a youth criminal justice academy for ages 12-18 and a summer learning time program for ages 4-8)
Hosted spring and fall rabies clinics
Raised over $1,700 in “No Shave November” to benefit the Special Olympics Virginia

Social Services

Modernized the service referral process by expanding Unite Us platform participation in the region, including onboarding all PD16 social services offices
Fulfilled all of the 2023-2025 strategic plan goals & objectives, only carrying over one goal into the renewed plan
Recognized by state central office as a leading agency in kinship placements
Broadened workforce initiatives to include middle & high school students through KGHS work-based learning participation and classroom engagement
Represented King George in the development of the Be Well Rappahannock—Community Health Improvement Plan

Solid Waste & Recycling

Recycling procedures improved and regulatory requirements exceeded as the county is now subject to the state’s most stringent recycling rate requirements due to population growth
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days well attended and kept significant amounts of toxic materials from being disposed in the landfill
Installed three-phase electrical power and a new recycling compactor at the Sealston Convenience Center
Virginia DEQ landfill inspections did not result in any violations