[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6088326,"mediaKeyId","2883948-bf8dd503f0866849ada6744251ef2f44","parentId",2883948,"title","Sheriff and emergency services request raises, staffing and equipment increases; animal shelter seeks extra part‑time help","audioSeconds",1085,"startMs",3105000,"endMs",4190000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2883948-bf8dd503f0866849ada6744251ef2f44&start=3105&end=4190","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2883948-bf8dd503f0866849ada6744251ef2f44/thumbnail_3105000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088326/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Sheriff-and-emergency-services-request-raises-staffing-and-equipment-increases-animal-shelter-seeks-extra-parttime-help","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088326-fac533419b4fa22f713ffb3e2fb211ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770802980&Signature=UmZl6g2M7mwEUNCBFzP7S~7rl93LpXK8t48~pLThNWrWUtkXaK8CavclUX~Mz-sgRFZg-z~itM4Qg8Gitx79BPonfo32XsX~PEPJijk2REi9p0hEX8C9Nord2s4UO--MYUCEAz0lVKQvKJ4vFHypS0oT2PPdCZs8H~7AwOpT09hv5X5cjd0fkdI~bQwpVMNrja4qOtgFy4bAb8SOb1JLsxbeYWHDZrEdnqUcWzvKSHXRrrzXQc6AhLcThwGpkEi9UEQ6SS4drUfLGbrhEUKKo9q9HaI19AUvuCyIuEaMIo7vdyGmE31vhOS01o~9RqWMO~hR3sT3mu8Y0He2o-tZsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northumberland County, VA","date","2025-04-05T12:03:02.68Z","article","Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services leaders told the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors that rising overtime, staffing gaps, aging vehicles and new software requirements require higher appropriations or budget adjustments for FY‑26.

Sheriff Beecham summarized several funding needs and personnel pressures. He requested a 3% across‑the‑board increase for county‑funded positions, noted a request for an additional $35,000 to cover overtime driven by vacancies, and said vehicle‑repair and replacement costs have risen. The sheriff described a $61,500 estimate to replace the department’s aging security camera system and identified Verkada as the vendor in the quoted proposal; he said the system would allow remote access aligned with school cameras. He also described a $5,000 annual subscription for a citizen‑facing sheriff app, and said the office requested four replacement patrol vehicles plus one additional vehicle tied to a proposed new deputy position.

Beecham explained dispatch staffing is down and that training and certification requirements mean new hires often require paired shifts with experienced dispatchers. He said total department personnel number about 41 and that dispatch staffing fluctuates with training and scheduling; the sheriff detailed a retention and recruitment challenge for certified dispatchers and patrol deputies.

Chief Paulson of Emergency Services presented the department’s FY‑26 operating proposal and highlighted line items that rose or required attention. Paulson told the board that software and medical‑tracking changes will move previously state‑funded EPCR (electronic patient care reporting) costs to the county, and that the department has added a phone/tablet‑based medication accountability application to meet DEA tracking expectations. He described a tuition‑reimbursement program that helped send personnel through EMT‑to‑paramedic training (employees sign agreements requiring multi‑year service or pro‑rated repayment if they leave) and requested continued funding for that program. Paulson also asked to convert shift‑lead stipends into base salary to ensure those amounts count toward retirement, proposed a defined shift‑lead pay scale, and requested collateral‑duty stipends for employees who perform extra duties such as equipment maintenance and fleet oversight.

The animal shelter manager asked for one additional part‑time position limited to roughly 720 hours per year (the manager estimated approximately $11,000 in salary cost) to reduce reliance on overtime for two full‑time shelter staff and to cover daily operations. Sheriff Beecham also addressed shelter coverage and volunteer/community service participation and observed that younger volunteers present insurance and logistics questions.

Board members asked detailed follow‑ups on fleet miles and vehicle replacement counts, security camera capabilities, app redundancy with county CodeRed emergency notifications, dispatch certification pathways and program specifics for training repayment agreements. Presenters agreed to provide additional cost breakdowns and implementation timelines for items such as Verkada camera replacement, EPCR contractor costs, and vehicle upfitting.

Why it matters: staffing and equipment decisions in public safety affect response times, recordkeeping, compliance with state and federal regulations, and long‑term personnel retention. Large one‑time purchases — camera systems and vehicle fleets — also affect capital budgets and maintenance plans.

What’s next: departments will provide follow‑up cost detail and proposed contract/vendor terms; the board will consider those figures as part of ongoing FY‑26 budget deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northumberland Board of Supervisors - Special Called Meeting - 4/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","Public‑safety leaders briefed the Board of Supervisors on staffing, overtime and equipment requests: the sheriff sought a 3% across‑the‑board increase plus overtime and a security camera system; emergency services highlighted new software and training costs; the animal shelter requested an additional 720‑hour part‑time position.","taxTitle","Northumberland County, Virginia","taxId",37847,"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},6088332,"Nonprofits present FY‑26 funding requests to Northumberland County as budget season continues",2941,253000,3194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2883948-bf8dd503f0866849ada6744251ef2f44&start=253&end=3194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2883948-bf8dd503f0866849ada6744251ef2f44/thumbnail_253000.jpg","/articles/6088332/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Nonprofits-present-FY26-funding-requests-to-Northumberland-County-as-budget-season-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088332-23b77bc66a0486e542ac01b8c51db35f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770802980&Signature=h5SmrXyfxvqzb-nMCTWMpJU0U5r~Jjynz1Ou0FaiRRNrTNK65ZY4zamAkR06KiLQY3d~KHA3J3TIENYpOt9wIPUMRyA0GaoNcwMeV8BLAsiJNMmqqqmpfrDUG2uCwDEr0WnibVEuAaFzzBPiWW~x6HxAy0vAKP-U7fQbItUdl0UzysZVxuIYzq4f4YqEwxZiO5ABaVIvDZq0c3iPjCP5IGa5TwNxWMdA4Qk4qSbjArpLWbZktAtY13jDhIJ4mGBameygIl1Rv7NMQcI7WBH3BshelVnipj3YJu9bL8Wpk7EfGEHfoZE-QIYexUcxGRAo8So9~nxEWBvmnSBFomOprg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presentations from a slate of health, human‑service and education providers dominated the April 2025 special call of the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors as outside agencies sought continued or increased county funding for fiscal 2026.

Legal Aid Works, Bay Aging (including Bay Transit), a Free Health Clinic, Rappahannock Community College, the Northumberland Public Library and the Northumberland Family YMCA each summarized services provided to county residents and outlined budget requests or related asks.

The requests combined program metrics with specific funding asks. James Bridal, managing attorney of the Taffy Hanning branch office of Legal Aid Works, said the two‑attorney office covers seven counties including Northumberland and asked the board for $9,056 in county support. Bridal said Legal Aid Works “is the only agency in this area providing these services” and told the board the office had assisted 31 Northumberland residents in the last fiscal year. He also said the agency’s three offices obtained “over $418,000 for our clients throughout the 17 counties that we serve.”

Tinsley Goad, chief financial officer for Bay Aging — the Area Agency on Aging and Community Action Agency — requested a 3% increase over the FY‑25 appropriation, which Goad said would bring the county allocation to $16,701 for FY‑26. Goad described Bay Aging’s services as divided into health, housing and transit and reported Bay Aging served “nearly 1,600 residents of Northumberland in 2024,” providing about 20,000 home‑delivered meals and roughly 7,500 home‑care hours. Goad said local dollars act as required local match to unlock larger state and federal funds and summarized a 45:1 leveraging ratio for county dollars in FY‑24.

David Foles, transit director for Bay Transit, asked for a 3% increase for transit services and described ridership and fare details. He said Bay Transit provided 6,851 rides last year; nearly half were work related and 29% were health‑related. Foles reported Bay Transit provided 366 “New Freedom” rides for Northumberland residents this year and said the New Freedom fare is $5 for the first 50 miles and $10 above 50 miles; the county’s local buses charge $2 per ride.

A representative of the Northern Neck Middle Free Health Clinic reported a surge in patients after Medicaid redeterminations and an addition of services and staff. The speaker said the clinic received about 770 new patients during the recent year, that roughly 550–565 county residents used the clinic’s services, and that the clinic hired a full‑time pharmacist effective Aug. 1, 2024. The clinic also added two peer‑recovery specialists through a partnership with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and said its expanded behavioral‑health and pharmacy services improve medication compliance and reduce repeat trips for patients.

Rappahannock Community College requested level funding of $9,852 and asked the board to consider an additional $287 to fully meet the college’s request. The college’s representative said 101 county residents took credit courses, 94 students are in dual‑enrollment programs, and RCC awarded $295,639 in financial aid to Northumberland residents in the most recent year. The college also described plans for a 10,000‑square‑foot health‑sciences center and expanded technical programming.

Lisonbee Cockrell, District Executive Director for the Northumberland Family YMCA, said the organization seeks level funding and noted the Brent Family Aquatic Center pool‑enclosure project broke ground Feb. 1, 2025. Cockrell asked the board to continue a one‑time $5,000 capital contribution approved in FY‑25 to help offset early operations and programming costs in FY‑26.

The Northumberland Public Library asked for a 3% increase in county funding to $273,480, citing a state aid increase from $142,108 to $176,846 and warning of the planned loss of approximately $4.3 million in federal support for statewide electronic resources if a new funding source is not found. The library said it served 27,822 patrons in 2024, answered 7,450 reference questions and provided 14,830 computer sessions; the director asked the county to continue steps toward the state’s 66% funding requirement.

Board members and presenters discussed service counts, local matching formulas, ride counts and program partnerships; several presenters said they would provide follow‑up breakdowns (for example, Legal Aid agreed to supply county‑by‑county service counts and the Free Health Clinic and Bay Aging agreed to share locality breakdowns). No supplemental appropriations for these agency requests were decided at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to convene a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (motion referenced Virginia FOIA language). Motion moved and seconded; board recessed into closed session.
- Motion and roll‑call return to open session; members recorded as voting “Aye” in the roll call recorded at the meeting.
- Appointment: approved — Suzanne Eham appointed to the anti‑litter committee (vote recorded as Aye).
- Supplemental appropriation for DHCD housing planning grant invoices (amount described in packet; board approved a supplemental appropriation and vote recorded as Aye).
- Invitation to bid: approved — exterior painting at the school board office (motion to put the project out for bid approved, vote recorded as Aye).
- Motion to continue/carry over the meeting to Tuesday at 6 p.m.: approved (vote recorded as Aye).

Why it matters: county appropriations and the local match decisions taken this spring will determine whether these agencies can sustain current service levels or need to scale back. Providers emphasized increased demand for transportation, home‑delivered meals, behavioral‑health navigation, and library electronic resources.

Looking ahead: presenters said they will provide requested locality‑by‑locality service breakdowns and follow‑up figures to county staff. The board continued its meeting to Tuesday at 6 p.m. to take up remaining items and budget deliberations.","Legal aid, senior services, transit, clinics, library, YMCA and Rappahannock Community College presented proposed budgets and service metrics to the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors; several asked for level funding or modest increases while speakers highlighted service volumes and program changes that affect county residents.","actionData","errors"]

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Sheriff and emergency services request raises, staffing and equipment increases; animal shelter seeks extra part‑time help

Nonprofits present FY‑26 funding requests to Northumberland County as budget season continues