[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6275127,"mediaKeyId","2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda","parentId",2777015,"title","Parents, students and teachers press Caroline County supervisors for faster school expansion and preschool support","audioSeconds",2009,"startMs",7921000,"endMs",9930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda&start=7921&end=9930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda/thumbnail_7921000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275127/Caroline-County/Virginia/Parents-students-and-teachers-press-Caroline-County-supervisors-for-faster-school-expansion-and-preschool-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275127-845be568ab1436921f7be4ad4b2a6106/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178031&Signature=a88yH8yjy4E75A0FZ0VvEjs3mwmFsiHnzqEz1BeahGf-XqipEFgRE5yeLr35nlrqnGWoJQYCzhQTMh0RfogP0xl5N3sGiqqZ0CMvFkaRzxNXMiVkSHB3zeSvowL2RFoIHfoSnWr27eJ8BE-tzSkwsxzNFSgNXhJpdusq84wEzbQMA~UFZNk-KsmD7WoMxNk3dkP9z0aqQOxdZJKy-zXAR9mtrC8fyxwgk1AJWdcMtyqbllTUxVn0ukN1c6H4SQCG1kOeKnYkvmE6b5o0ANnf0EejsDPJWREG3OdT7YIYY59dCQ1phyD1ua8LtB4RVAiLMVjyvrWOnMHabDCBCnD94A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline County, VA","date","2025-03-26T16:12:36.777Z","article","Public commenters filled the board dais on March 25 to press Caroline County supervisors to prioritize school facilities, classroom space and preschool services as the county’s population grows.

More than a dozen speakers — parents, teachers, students and school officials — described full classrooms, hallways used for instruction and inadequate athletic fields at Caroline High School, Bowling Green and Lewis & Clark elementary schools. Student speakers cited crowded hallways and unsafe, uneven practice fields. Teachers described delivering special‑education and intervention services in hallways, libraries or shared corners because dedicated rooms are unavailable.

Parent Kevin Collins told the board he participates in public meetings \"because I care about this county and my family's future in it\" and asked for a written statement about allegations raised at a prior meeting. Several other parents urged faster action, saying Bowling Green and Lewis & Clark were already over capacity.

Michael Mudd, assistant superintendent for instruction, presented preschool program details on behalf of the school division: \"CCPS offers preschool for 3 and 4 year olds and a full day service model,\" he said, and reported 252 three‑ and four‑year‑olds this school year across 15 preschool classrooms at three elementary schools (five classrooms at Lewis and Clark, six at Bowling Green, four at Madison). Mudd outlined funding streams: Head Start ($1,296,479.08), Title I (~$120,000), Virginia Preschool Initiative (~$638,531) and other state/local and special education funding, plus required local match for VPI.

The division and its chief operations officer, Marcia Stevens, also told supervisors an engineering and architectural assessment of the former Lotus Academy building showed high deferred infrastructure needs. Stevens said limited repairs over six years would cost nearly $9.7 million and that a full renovation would run about $15 million — roughly 86% of the cost of a new school — and would still fail to meet modern educational design standards. Based on projected growth and the condition of the facility, school staff recommended new construction rather than renovating Lotus.

School staff said they would provide the board with a fuller, hard‑copy presentation on preschool enrollment, funding and program details. Several speakers asked the board to allocate current available county dollars toward school capacity — including pay‑as‑you‑go capital — rather than other proposed projects.

Supervisors thanked commenters and noted they planned a joint meeting with the school board to discuss facilities and budget timing; the board tentatively discussed a joint facilities/budget work session in mid‑April to continue the conversation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline County Board of Supervisors 03/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents, teachers and students urged the Caroline County Board of Supervisors on March 25 to speed up school construction and preschool support, saying several schools are already over capacity.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Virginia","taxId",30582,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275132,"Financial advisers warn Caroline County to stop relying on fund balance as a recurring revenue source",238,2672000,2910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda&start=2672&end=2910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda/thumbnail_2672000.jpg","/articles/6275132/Caroline-County/Virginia/Financial-advisers-warn-Caroline-County-to-stop-relying-on-fund-balance-as-a-recurring-revenue-source","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275132-cf3d99b40805155f8a31f876edad616b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178031&Signature=OkaeMwnRCT3rpV6vt9hJwXCMwP~KRWw9bvFfsMyHAoNxzBixKGPz4msTKUbo2i9zQnazWeTjDuQbTfsfwrjo-~0tzGsMqWnSLV3dr715QmPwHYkB4DcugcVUtjUC~XWS63Db4tXgxsrkEqyxKPArpAOcyYwGxHzmBvv87PxaChpxPTNbCFmPXmrlAWQ3VErv9Vnb-lrU2X9Ggz6v2iw34ZXYZeoHqJuF-czYmrQw-kPEWmc51PRFOsDS-5-HX5h1hDSRQ5NXhcNG9dFSyRZ6fQXtmSeIJm8iJv9i90EgEFKCueeARmxAWLihA4iPVJCJ5GyZRPNpgR7rSWqc6ZBLdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Courtney Rogers of Davenport & Company briefed the Caroline County Board of Supervisors on March 25 on the county’s recent financial results, reserve levels and debt capacity as the county begins next year’s budget process.

Rogers said revenues grew from about $59 million to roughly $66 million over recent years, helped by interest earnings and local tax gains, but expenditures — especially public safety and general government — increased faster, eating the revenue gains. The firm flagged use of fund balance in adopted budgets: the '24 adopted budget initially contemplated using about $2.7 million of fund balance, and the '25 adopted budget included roughly $400,000 more use of fund balance to balance operations even after a one‑cent real‑property tax rate increase.

\"If you use fund balance for ongoing operations, rating agencies will treat that as a management weakness,\" Rogers said. Davenport recommended the board consider a formal budget stabilization reserve (2–5% of operating revenues) separate from the unassigned fund balance policy and to consider a policy to transfer excess above a high threshold (illustrative 25%) into capital reserves.

On debt, Davenport reviewed the county’s outstanding borrowings and projected debt service. Using current budgeted debt service capacity (about $9.1 million) and conservative assumptions, the firm estimated the county could support roughly $24 million in additional debt from existing budget capacity over the next five years; under broader policy limits (15% annual debt service to revenues, 20‑year financing at 5%), theoretical capacity rises toward roughly $67 million, but Rogers emphasized that capacity is not the same as affordability.

Rogers and board members discussed utility projects under design, including a sewer interceptor and upgrades to wet‑wells and pump stations. Staff and consultants estimated additional interceptor work could be on the order of several million dollars — town staff mentioned an engineer’s estimate near $5 million for additional pipeline sections — and that well development work was underway to expand water supply.

The presentation included recommended policy changes: (1) create an explicit budget stabilization reserve (2–5% of operating revenues), (2) refine debt policy language to explicitly count utility debt as tax‑supporting when the general fund subsidizes utility operations and (3) consider raising the debt‑to‑assessed‑value threshold from 3% to 4% (still within Moody’s “moderate” guidance). Rogers closed by urging the board to avoid substituting recurring operating support with fund balance and to consider moving excess reserves into capital funding when appropriate.

No formal vote followed; the presentation was advisory for the budget season.","Davenport & Company presented a fiscal review showing revenue growth but faster expenditure growth, rising use of fund balance to balance budgets, and limited near‑term debt capacity; the firm recommended policy changes including a budget stabilization reserve and adjustments to debt limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275137,"Retail recruiters tell Caroline County growth could support a new grocery but timelines are long",2194,1116000,3310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda&start=1116&end=3310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda/thumbnail_1116000.jpg","/articles/6275137/Caroline-County/Virginia/Retail-recruiters-tell-Caroline-County-growth-could-support-a-new-grocery-but-timelines-are-long","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275137-424cef76c1574dedb129ee347fc63961/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178031&Signature=bGCZPW5vkrNzoCoLAz3uwIofl6Ueh~BkqT49lvugdUtFSo54ypUpiPPcGUSHlQvVqY-HmmxpAu8nNi6VrVACRjFVUN0NKoVuV0NBxgtzCX5kt5yBwymQuJtC3TN7Mxc~83tmRWsCsvTsUXnt5mrfFMAjJ0xW~HQOoPNKv2pAJjRHhpFd3051T7gSvgHo4kgG6vUfnlgcxhMz3TmugQuEGHcbolrSIOVKZGRw31HHh5faJMO7W8N-XqWKOhelzmQxa48hMUFDmDhDAxcRyxXUV4Ya6awzhxjEcR5CYH4NSFVl5pBEoY4l34vre175zY0mikBgIP05kgppdOcDpI14Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michael Warsaw, portfolio director for retail recruitment firm Veil Strategies, told the Caroline County Board of Supervisors on March 25 that the county’s growth and consumer trade area point to an opportunity for a general‑market grocer, but cautioned that retailers take years to approve and build new stores.

Veil Strategies presented mobile‑device and trade‑area data showing a drive‑time consumer base larger than the county’s municipal population and a market “gap” in retail spending. \"There is a gap or a leakage of approximately $264,000,000 from that CTA,\" Warsaw said, referring to the consumer trade area; he said grocery is a central target despite what he called a misleading data subset that currently understates grocery demand in Caroline County.

The consultants outlined a recruitment strategy that focuses first on mid‑market grocers — Kroger, Aldi, Walmart Neighborhood Market and similar chains — which typically seek sites of roughly 3–12 acres and average store footprints in the 40,000–55,000 square‑foot range. Warsaw said those “general grocers” usually want a minimum trade‑area population of about 30,000–50,000 and prefer sites within a 10–15 minute drive of customers. He urged county staff to keep pushing housing growth and to get retailers to “hop off the interstate” to visit local sites.

Warsaw described how retailers evaluate deals: long corporate approval processes driven by average unit volume goals, real‑estate committee reviews and site visits. \"The average timeline for a new store is about three years,\" he said, and grocery projects — because of their higher construction and refrigeration costs — can take substantially longer, sometimes five years or more and \"in rare cases… a decade.\"

Board members asked how Caroline could compete against larger markets. Warsaw and Jimmy Pritchett, Veil’s retail development associate, said the county’s selling points are rapid housing growth, strong traffic corridors and coordinated local outreach to broker relationships with corporate real‑estate teams. Warsaw recommended presenting improved, corrected data and more “blue dots” (evidence of population density and retail activity) on recruitment maps.

The presentation closed with concrete suggestions for county actions: track housing growth and incomes, improve public data available to retailers, identify and market ‘‘home‑run’’ retail sites with good visibility and parking, and recruit intermediate retail categories (clinic/“doc‑in‑a‑box,” dental/vision, etc.) that can both serve residents and strengthen the case for grocers.

Veil Strategies’ presentation was informational; the board did not take formal action. Several board members thanked the consultants and asked staff to follow up on timing and the firm’s specific prospect list.

","Retail recruitment consultants told the Caroline County Board of Supervisors that the county’s population growth and trade-area patterns can support a new full‑service grocer, but the industry’s long timetables and imperfect data mean any new store is likely years away.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275118,"Board approves co‑branded tower signage pilot; staff to return with final art",456,12332000,12788000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda&start=12332&end=12788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda/thumbnail_12332000.jpg","/articles/6275118/Caroline-County/Virginia/Board-approves-cobranded-tower-signage-pilot-staff-to-return-with-final-art","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275118-7f884c04bfc42f7ec7372a0681f31ca1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178031&Signature=fz3xbRw4742TVepLVo3ixcf9kgpZ8WGgYeSzf75JSL5mgSGnV8fXoxMZWZdVUZL1wPUtLnTJv0DXTn3YhMVaelY15wz7TedFzgF0xt8i~VwAnLoAyWW~y15VAdnskltw6qTVLc6IhU~nDXxr3TY9gjdsIvLjkCxudAvIm1pQwKsU4Bmqg7BWsB0r-t~68aV0A3qk06NDYnO0ytJGH1cQLGKp7HY3kQytN-JYMOhk0r6dh7H9Yn4FSFShokFgQXYUs1sf~VMKYaMKCffzOdIgU72wLsvsW~mBr35957JOeSItWI8xYglN0ien9gaWbMo5On2aVDO~BTpVtR0pGj0iJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved a staff recommendation on March 25 to proceed with a co‑branded signage pilot for selected elevated towers and key locations.

Staff identified multiple elevated water towers and high‑visibility sites — including towers near Ladysmith, Carmel Church (visible from I‑95), the high school and the innovation/industry area — and proposed an approach that places county identity (\"Caroline, Virginia\" or a county silhouette) on the side most visible to through traffic while allowing partner or site‑specific branding on the opposite face.

Board members asked staff to return with finished mockups, specific color and dimension options and the final vendor spec; staff agreed to provide refined drafts for board review. The board approved the concept (option 1) by voice vote with one member recorded as opposed; staff will circulate design proofs and confirm any contractual or maintenance arrangements with partners (for example, for the innovation/industry site).

No county funds were committed in this decision; the vote authorized staff to finalize designs and placement details in coordination with utility and partner stakeholders and report back to the board.","The board approved a plan to add co‑branded signage to select elevated water towers and other county locations, asking staff and partners to provide final design drafts for review. The decision calls for one side of visible towers to carry a county identifier and the other to include partner branding or local imagery.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275122,"Supervisors deny Belmont Village rezoning for 72‑lot age‑restricted community after public hearing",492,10248000,10740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda&start=10248&end=10740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777015-512825d1f52b21128e38a330ee918cda/thumbnail_10248000.jpg","/articles/6275122/Caroline-County/Virginia/Supervisors-deny-Belmont-Village-rezoning-for-72lot-agerestricted-community-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275122-45030237074f96bcf5bad00380abc19d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178031&Signature=evsjxbhjIcWZtT4d0sUlHS0c1iWl8bJD6vxPlteazyO0QVUwRg~Xb6~NUi-VYo2rbdMufBecSJJ9ER6KVo0MD3DS-mVD41rKBtlgLcLkVCXoJK8MCm8sBXIuRfF-KZkqOpK1CgCtRNKn7HqErzHIACWOyNpMet3dj4Tp5bgHdt2p4NLvopnYtb1BSOj5sySgXbAAIufzolcnZWNZ-5Fy9xa9qeI1sEK0tZCJCGPGnEBAMqvYdSVNmPIzJZaSPOWKaB0JQb5vwteEX32kgxvYefDB9GPeYGtrUjO3i2fKl9F8zZRQ100O~v0KFTamIDJkqZLOJX736EALvxJtD5dJHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors voted on March 25 to deny a rezoning request (RZ 03‑2024) that would have rezoned a 9.8‑acre portion of a 20‑acre parcel near Route 207 from B‑1 (business) to PRD (planned residential development) to allow a 72‑unit age‑restricted townhouse community called Belmont Villas.

Planning staff explained that the applicant proposed 72 two‑story attached townhouses in five clusters, with internal private roads, a 20×20 pavilion, a dog park and a walking trail around the stormwater pond. The applicant had proffered 55+ age restrictions, construction of Colonel Armistead Drive as a public road to connect to Traverse Street when that extension is built, and architectural conformance with the GDP. The planning commission had recommended approval on a 02/27/2025 vote after the applicant revised driveway lengths and added the pavilion and dog park.

Henry Wilton, representing the applicant, described the proposal as meeting an unmet local demand for age‑restricted homes and said the developer would construct Colonel Armistead Drive and make other site improvements; he also said the HOA would maintain private internal roads and site landscaping and would include reserve funding for roof and exterior maintenance.

Several supervisors raised concerns in the board meeting. They cited the original comprehensive‑plan intent for a commercial frontage along Route 207, outstanding VDOT review comments on the traffic and sidewalk layout, the proposal’s dependence on future extensions of adjacent roads, and whether the parcel should remain reserved for commercial development. After discussion, Supervisor Floyd Thomas moved to deny the rezoning; the motion was seconded and, following a roll call, the board’s majority voted to deny the application.

The planning commission’s recommendation and the applicant’s proposed proffers remain in the record. County staff noted the remaining undeveloped 10.3 acres of the parcel would stay zoned B‑1 and be available for commercial use. The developer may pursue other options, but the board’s action prevents the PRD rezoning as presented.","After a planning commission recommendation to approve, the Board of Supervisors voted to deny a rezoning request (RZ 03‑2024) that would have converted a 9.8‑acre portion of a 20‑acre parcel from B‑1 (business) to PRD for a 72‑lot, 55+ townhouse development. Concerns about preserving a commercial frontage and unsettled VDOT comments were noted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, students and teachers press Caroline County supervisors for faster school expansion and preschool support

Financial advisers warn Caroline County to stop relying on fund balance as a recurring revenue source

Retail recruiters tell Caroline County growth could support a new grocery but timelines are long

Board approves co‑branded tower signage pilot; staff to return with final art

Supervisors deny Belmont Village rezoning for 72‑lot age‑restricted community after public hearing