[{"_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",6076741,"mediaKeyId","2968027-c934e6422d5c8bea1884083aad4a0715","parentId",2968027,"title","Supervisors adopt FY26 school budget, shift some capital projects and ask architect to study high-school reuse","audioSeconds",34,"startMs",7652000,"endMs",7686000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968027-c934e6422d5c8bea1884083aad4a0715&start=7652&end=7686","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968027-c934e6422d5c8bea1884083aad4a0715/thumbnail_7652000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076741/Lancaster-County/Virginia/Supervisors-adopt-FY26-school-budget-shift-some-capital-projects-and-ask-architect-to-study-high-school-reuse","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076741-615dbdffc903e78421ee542395769d58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151722&Signature=lsLm63k~q54-Y2rfSZPDy5yVSKQqnObL4wBcCvOABUA8XyFwoWd4hY4iacWSLPWSWyVCABS8f3ViHYfumHL3FCgJCLQqiho2QTM2ts07-~0NIZIcp7Eo8xb4ei7uml1obt3eHHcRPP9XtH~hG8cFPKJq~7oQ4pYKV-JQT71JBemLUnLacx8XpSZsewI4DnqUcK0CKsZ0JI52posCHYhitZKsNMZkNFNb7puGzpMJIWhYiiqHpO~~VfjNqVdkqHvqU~-mWORZU1ppNaEDn34nNXdsLZDX7sPLjKqBUdmAfXS3fTynUybHvD5xfqBEVy1vwlZAh-YHyxRD8JA7UWY5hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lancaster County, VA","date","2025-04-12T08:39:00.5Z","article","The Lancaster County Board of Supervisors on April 10 adopted the FY26 public school budget and took several budget- and capital-related actions, including approving change orders for a convenience-center expansion and asking engineering firm Guernsey Tingle to prepare estimates on whether the soon-to-be-vacant high school could house county administration and public safety functions.

County Administrator Don told the board that the planning commission recommended moving a jail roof replacement into FY26 and postponing a planned combined sheriff’s office and EMS building from FY26 to FY27 pending study of whether county offices could move into the high school after it vacates in summer 2026. Don said the planning commission “felt that [the jail roof replacement] was needed in FY26” after heavy rains revealed worsening leaks; the roof work estimate discussed in the meeting was about $180,000.

Having discussed the options, the board voted to direct Guernsey Tingle to prepare a study and cost estimate to assess reuse of the current high school for county administration and whether EMS and sheriff’s office needs could be met there or elsewhere on the county campus. A supervisor made a motion to authorize the architect to prepare an estimate; the motion carried by voice vote.

On the capital-items front, the board reviewed several proposed purchases and grants: EMS seeks to replace in-service cardiac monitors with the next-generation devices (the county’s current units are LifePak 15 from Stryker and were described as unserviceable without a current service contract), and an ambulance replacement remains contingent on uncertain state grant funding. The county will also seek federal or state security grants with a local match (the board noted a 25% match up to a $250,000 grant, with a $62,500 local match at full grant award).

Don summarized debt-service changes and adjustments to the county’s FY26 budget assumptions. He said he had updated county figures using state compensation-board estimates for constitutional officers, reduced the Broadband Authority request based on current spending trends, and added $334,429 in estimated debt service tied to an anticipated $10 million county project note to be reflected in FY26. Those changes left the county’s projected unassigned fund balance below the board’s previous 7% internal guideline (the presented scenario showed the fund balance at about 5.81% under one projection). Staff told the board the fund balance percentage could improve if FY25 year-end results outperform the conservative projection.

After discussion about cuts and possible tax options, the board agreed for advertising purposes to publish an FY26 county budget that assumes a 57¢ real-estate tax rate (the advertisement is a legal step and the board may adopt a different final rate later). Staff explained that advertising a higher rate gives the board flexibility because the advertised rate is an upper bound: the board can adopt a lower rate after public hearing but cannot adopt a rate higher than advertised.

On school funding, the board voted to adopt and appropriate the Lancaster County Public Schools’ FY26 budget by lump sum; Don said local funding provides $14,116,068 under general operating and $120,004.24 under textbooks and that the overall school budget increased by $533,125 after state and federal funding. A supervisor moved to adopt the school budget and appropriate it in lump sum; the motion passed by voice vote.

Later the board considered a construction contract change-order package for the Kilmarnock convenience center expansion. Don said contractors encountered trash-laden soil that required removal and replacement with clean fill; the county had previously approved two small administrative change orders and sought formal approval of change order number three, which covers the extra fill. The board approved the total of three change orders, listed in the packet at a combined $70,950, to keep the project moving.

Board members also discussed operational needs tied to the county’s new high school schedule, staffing shortages in EMS and law enforcement that drive overtime and equipment requests, and other capital needs such as school bus replacements, portable AC units for emergency building use, and repairs to the administration and social services buildings. Staff reminded the board that some capital items are financed (bonds or notes) and do not directly affect the general fund, while others require operating dollars or local matches to grant awards.

No additional tax-rate ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the board set next steps to advertise the budget, hold the required public hearing on April 24 and adopt the budget at its regular May meeting per the county budget calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors - Apr 10 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lancaster County Board of Supervisors adopted the FY26 public school budget on April 10, approved construction change orders for a convenience-center expansion and directed the county’s architect to study reusing the soon-to-be-vacant high school for county offices and public safety needs.","taxTitle","Lancaster County, Virginia","taxId",37257,"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},6076746,"Resident urges Lancaster County to adopt vacancy and blight tax to address long-term empty properties",1072,228000,1300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968027-c934e6422d5c8bea1884083aad4a0715&start=228&end=1300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968027-c934e6422d5c8bea1884083aad4a0715/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6076746/Lancaster-County/Virginia/Resident-urges-Lancaster-County-to-adopt-vacancy-and-blight-tax-to-address-long-term-empty-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076746-e39cba8ab4308c571acf8dbbdf6f91ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151722&Signature=OwpLTYiWa4kx4WOhdBQPK5TN2k3xs~EbKzzDJoGlFUTmhqYK1qx9Ui-jbKbbwyI19IGGsAlfzUWnWKmgXXLyEz6~Ri0pxRc9xVSaMGwpOoImHh5Ih76QutRxXLLxZfymSuuh2VMEHQQqtVhJhO0m0ljjFcEjnO1HPGBOSnRT8v3PAVwBeLeZK1Bu4~2QWLtPJmEVjwqOCq88l6HCs0QS8Bxff0afGTvVft6L6L0Lrbt7P3qIo38hya8Su~fTZfuAmtcs7k1FiMarCO7MMTCFNmBvZWml0TF1m0ozYngomPJDTZ~SRq7JDsmN8qyVeStFKGrmxq-sVD~cXNApdt9zJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Guzak, a Lancaster County resident from Kilmarnock, urged the Lancaster County Board of Supervisors on April 10 to adopt a vacancy tax and a blighted building tax to address long-term commercial and residential vacancies that he said are harming local tax revenue, housing availability and downtown character.

Guzak said the county should use a tax as “a tool to combat vacancies and blight,” arguing that long-term empty storefronts and houses reduce sales and property values and increase local costs for code enforcement. He cited a downtown Kilmarnock grocery that has sat empty for decades and said, “If the owner of this single property must begin to pay a 3% penalty tax the town will collect an additional $16,320 every year until it’s rented.”

The request came during the supervisors’ FY26 budget work session and prompted questions from board members and county staff about what the county can legally adopt and enforce.

County staff said state rules limit where a local government may pass a blighted-property tax. “A locality has to qualify, it has to be a qualifying locality in order to enact such a tax or a blighted tax for sure,” a county official said. He said Lancaster does not meet the cited fiscal-stress index threshold for a blighted property tax and that it is unclear whether the same state threshold applies to a vacancy tax.

Board members and staff discussed two enforcement threads. First, county staff noted the county already has a property maintenance code that could be enforced more strictly; one supervisor suggested the county could “start enforcing the… property maintenance code.” Second, supervisors emphasized the limits of county authority inside incorporated towns: the town would have to adopt its own ordinance to apply within its limits. Board members suggested Guzak raise the issue with the town council and pursue available court petition routes where appropriate.

Supervisors did not adopt an ordinance or set a formal timetable. Instead they asked staff to research the legal constraints and possible local steps— including options under the county’s property maintenance code — and to report back. Guzak said he would organize community support and attend town council meetings to press the issue.

The exchange highlighted specific local examples Guzak used to illustrate his case (a long-vacant grocery building, other empty storefronts and a residential lot with uncut grass and a removed dead tree) and the practical limits officials described: the building cited in Kilmarnock was not judged “unsafe” by building officials and thus not condemnable under current enforcement practice, and towns must adopt any town-level ordinance to change local rules.

For now, supervisors directed staff to research applicability of vacancy/blight taxes and enforcement options and to return with information about statutory qualifications and local code enforcement tools. Guzak said he stands ready to help draft or lead a citizen committee if the board supports moving forward.","John Guzak, a Lancaster County resident from Kilmarnock, urged the Lancaster County Board of Supervisors on April 10 to adopt a vacancy tax and a blighted building tax to address long-term commercial and residential vacancies that he said are harming local tax revenue, housing availability and downtown character.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors adopt FY26 school budget, shift some capital projects and ask architect to study high-school reuse

Resident urges Lancaster County to adopt vacancy and blight tax to address long-term empty properties