Pound, Virginia Considers Dissolving Town Charter

Town council votes 3-2 to explore terms of potential disincorporation amid county reassessments.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The small town of Pound, Virginia is moving closer to dissolving its town charter. The town council voted 3-2 to allow the town attorney to engage with the Wise County attorney to explore the terms of potential disincorporation. The main driver behind the move is concerns over rising town taxes, especially after the county took over the town's water and sewer services, leading to rate hikes.

Why it matters

Pound is the last town in Wise County to have a town charter, and its potential dissolution raises questions about the future of local governance and services in the region. The decision could impact town employees, residents' taxes, and the county's budget, as Wise County is already facing a projected $2.5 million shortfall.

The details

Town council member Clifton Cauthorne, who is leading the push for disincorporation, says town residents have been paying more in town taxes with little benefit, especially after the county took over the town's water and sewer services, leading to rate hikes. With Wise County undergoing property reassessments, many residents fear further increases in both town and county taxes. However, Vice Mayor Leabern Kennedy opposes disincorporation, arguing the town has resolved past issues and is in a better financial position than the county.

  • In 2022, the town was threatened with losing its charter due to issues including an embezzlement conviction and water system problems.
  • The town council voted 3-2 in favor of exploring disincorporation at their most recent meeting.

The players

Clifton Cauthorne

A town council member who is leading the charge for dissolving Pound's town charter, citing concerns over rising taxes with little benefit to residents.

Leabern Kennedy

The town's vice mayor, who opposes disincorporation and argues the town has resolved past issues and is in a better financial position than the county.

Terry Kilgore

A state delegate who previously introduced legislation to directly dissolve Pound's town charter, which was opposed by Cauthorne.

Wise County

The county that Pound is located in, which is undergoing property reassessments that have raised concerns about potential tax increases among residents.

Wise County Public Service Authority

The county agency that took over Pound's water and sewer services, leading to rate hikes that have contributed to the town's tax concerns.

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What they’re saying

“We could be a community without having the bureaucracy. We don't want to pay these taxes.”

— Clifton Cauthorne, Town Council Member (wcyb.com)

“I think people lose a lot.”

— Leabern Kennedy, Vice Mayor (wcyb.com)

“You're looking at a county that is - per the information that has been coming out of the budget talks - going to wind up with a $2.5 million short fall at the end of this fiscal year, versus a small community with assets, grants, no debt. We're chugging right along. We're in a better position than the county is.”

— Leabern Kennedy, Vice Mayor (wcyb.com)

What’s next

The next town council meeting will focus on the details that the town and county attorneys come up with regarding the potential disincorporation terms. If the council agrees on the terms in a majority vote, the issue would then be placed on the November mid-term election ballot for a referendum vote by residents.

The takeaway

Pound's potential dissolution of its town charter highlights the complex challenges facing small municipalities, as they balance the desire for local control and services with the financial realities of rising costs and county-level budget pressures. The outcome could set a precedent for other small towns in the region considering similar moves.