With a fully-funded school budget, extra funds allocated for public safety and constitutional offices, and no tax increases, Mathews County’s proposed FY 2013–2014 budget drew objections in only one area during Thursday night’s budget public hearing—animal control.

The sparsely attended meeting lasted just 20 minutes, and only five residents offered comments. Superintendent of Schools Dr. David J. Holleran complimented the board chair Edwina Casey and County Administrator Mindy Moran for an “outstanding job” on preparing the budget, saying that Moran “put up with me with about 20 meetings and looking at the budget again and again.”

Commissioner of the Revenue Les Hall thanked the board for funding his office, but added that the county still “needs a fully-funded animal control officer.”

Last October, the county’s animal control operations were shifted from the sheriff’s office, where it had been for several...