[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6263415,"mediaKeyId","3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89","parentId",3107888,"title","Caroline County board expands architect RFP to include schools, bus garage; approves $600,000 appropriation","audioSeconds",4654,"startMs",1129000,"endMs",5783000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89&start=1129&end=5783","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89/thumbnail_1129000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263415/Caroline-County/Virginia/Caroline-County-board-expands-architect-RFP-to-include-schools-bus-garage-approves-600000-appropriation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263415-08c65c63aa654a7ecef4fdcb131fa1a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146104&Signature=Lc0AkJ6PWfI0SAJ4UMRbU34e8xISMIHm-MEUTkfZtRRQGKNZ49PiqOayZ5JL3mmBL9uHZBpv90aSxhif2fLuYr9JojJUwP0fqy8ovYwd~o-UAFaGqrGyKcyfZqswf3qeWrB3IL~BjmkOgVghyucAwEjU0cIX9x7sbjyLLBFdyiKIqlTYeqKl1x~~lvwJyi5louplCiBbc~s9Qzo10iduGfml5qCBahhTItWsvLnsgTnij0atJ7Ss2vW-yly9s4XXb-cOtBE5ddlXYGEAcHtzL2LIdzxQi1q3UoyPavDKTx8HTOQuVe9oQOTq7B0z7JkYbfRjFNxGI-~t30OenMrtPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline County, VA","date","2025-04-24T01:47:45Z","article","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors voted to expand an architectural request for proposals (RFP) and to appropriate $600,000 for design services, adding multiple school- and facilities-related projects to a packet that had originally covered only the Dawn Community Center.

The decision follows a lengthy discussion in which supervisors argued the county must pursue short-term fixes to immediate classroom overcrowding while continuing longer-range planning for a new elementary school. The board voted to send an RFP that covers: the Dawn Community Center; expansion of the county-owned bus maintenance garage; feasibility and classroom use studies for the old Ladysmith (Lotus Academy) and old Bowling Green elementary school buildings; a possible expansion to the current Bowling Green Elementary (including use of a “knockout wall”); and an addition at Caroline Middle School. The board also approved increasing a supplemental appropriation for architect services to $600,000 from the undesignated general fund balance.

Supervisor Thomas introduced the broader scope, saying the county could use immediate, one-time funding to relieve overcrowding at schools while the school division works on longer-term solutions. “If we could do something right now … the county could fund right now, we would help right away,” Thomas said during discussion.

Several supervisors and school officials pushed for flexibility in the RFP so firms could bid on individual pieces (for example, only bus garage work) or on the entire package. Board counsel and staff advised that issuing an RFP without appropriated funds for the expanded scope is legally possible but could reduce bidder confidence; the board settled on increasing the appropriation to signal funding was available for design work.

Caroline County School Superintendent Dr. Calvert and other school staff briefed the board on constraints at older buildings. Calvert said the old Ladysmith facility lacks a working kitchen and would require substantial renovation to support full preschool meal service; she estimated a major renovation could cost in the $10–11 million range. The schools’ staff also presented “learning cottage” (temporary modular classroom) options as a lower-cost interim approach, and noted the school division had previously estimated deferred maintenance and expansion costs, including a roughly $4.2 million deferred-maintenance figure tied to the bus/transportation facility expansion.

After initial votes and a short recess, the board reconsidered and approved the broadened RFP and the $600,000 supplemental appropriation. The RFP will be drafted to allow firms to bid on one or more parts of the package; staff said they would also compare the county’s RFP responses with a list of seven pre‑vetted architectural/engineering vendors the schools maintain for cooperative procurement.

The board clarified that the appropriation covers design/architectural services only; separate approvals and funding sources will be required to construct or otherwise implement any recommended projects.

The board directed staff to return to the next regular meeting with any refined cost estimates and the proposed RFP language.

Ending: Supervisors said the goal is to secure short-term classroom relief for the 2025–26 school year while preserving options for a centrally sited new elementary school in future planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting 04/23/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors voted to expand an architectural RFP and increase a supplemental appropriation to $600,000 to finance design work for multiple county and school facilities, including the Dawn Community Center, the county bus garage and several school buildings.","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},6263400,"Board approves two nominations to Caroline County Board of Equalization",66,1018000,1084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89&start=1018&end=1084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89/thumbnail_1018000.jpg","/articles/6263400/Caroline-County/Virginia/Board-approves-two-nominations-to-Caroline-County-Board-of-Equalization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263400-bcd75ce6f0bc65c9fbdcddcd7277b834/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146104&Signature=WmcyrT3Y97L~~OTkzeZMfpbC793WguN9QX-IpPsvygTsjTSbBx3wGndv3oqnEsRwisOm6Q0HifA13PH27x20E1rIQN-ugImGNgIivtYQnAeOdLSYyO29LfoEaw6Lps06um1WkpuqubpX1Qikl71~hqgoLiVfLtLezNBMv8nz00Ni0eLR1hJU5fhK0LsSv-gQE-n3CPCBHtg~ufvDXYqjvxUGeH-TYrT3al7mTkEldVh-ZldHKqnCZiHiaBLSQEbxXl0STzwgzJnF5c8znzyMY6fZ7D-gzuiDhCzLaFfQq6mGz14BwjXwC2mhcct8OX0~sKPvtxn6A4HQ8h~t7IRj9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved nominations to the Board of Equalization during the meeting. The board voted to appoint Thomas Holmes to the Board of Equalization representing Reedy Church District and Robin Moran to represent Western Caroline. The motions to nominate and appoint were made and seconded and passed by voice vote; the chair thanked both appointees for their willingness to serve.

Ending: With those appointments approved the board moved on to other business.","The Board of Supervisors approved two nominations to the county Board of Equalization: Thomas Holmes for Reedy Church District and Robin Moran for Western Caroline.",{"_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},6263405,"Supervisors raise questions about data center water permits and reuse; DEQ guidance discussed",484,387000,871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89&start=387&end=871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89/thumbnail_387000.jpg","/articles/6263405/Caroline-County/Virginia/Supervisors-raise-questions-about-data-center-water-permits-and-reuse-DEQ-guidance-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263405-10fb6d1b7138e32f6278daff9da05d25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146104&Signature=RKNPo7ljJIr4SG4dMubZWWcRSnen7YE91wyoEsJ29L7WNGh7-cA-NNlioEUvPCrehQttk1qQXAmKbDKmVrudSU3nI2xc~9USRSTzceiVWGNNfl5zfeJg4JPOzA6t5D8SZPMldc4~KZMJDMDEKjPD9SAUoTOYuiJKCikPzDeI7iF5VEvPVQ793hsZ2VI4s5NHt3A0j5sN3BB8REmtrNF1NL8DcfGNBm3AiUTh32bJKdm~cxiS9tXNv8Yvxz1vBY4lWDZyfAehs7WanelBgBWEUbGEPhQZZBmoH1U11v3qtHCAtv3otMcgFdF-fIiDLe1HRCWep9k226J-aoGd~PgmdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supervisors discussed concerns about how projected data-center development could affect water resources, discharge requirements and downstream ecosystems, and asked staff to dig further into reuse and discharge plans before permitting actions proceed.

Supervisor Thomas said developments in Caroline County have shifted from sand-and-gravel and warehouses to data centers. Supervisor Underwood flagged two interrelated issues: drawing water from the Rappahannock River and where used cooling water would be discharged. Underwood warned that large volumes of reuse water, if discharged at high levels into the Mattaponi River, could harm downstream conditions and said Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) guidance suggests reuse practices and potential sale of treated water to data centers.

\"DEQ says what they want you to do with that water is use it for revenue to sell to data centers,\" Underwood said, adding that county leaders need to ensure comparisons are “apples to apples” when evaluating cooling systems and discharge plans.

Supervisors noted the county’s previous discussions with state regulators and the need to consider the mix of cooling technologies (self-cooled systems vs. water-cooled systems) and where discharge permits would allow treated water to go. There was no vote or policy action; supervisors asked staff to continue educating the board and consulting DEQ and other technical resources as siting and permit applications progress.

Ending: Supervisors agreed to keep water-discharge and reuse impacts as part of project reviews for data-center proposals and to request further technical information from developers and regulators before authorizing county approvals.","Board members and the county's supervisors discussed water-discharge and reuse questions tied to data center projects and asked staff to study environmental and downstream impacts before permitting decisions proceed.",{"_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},6263410,"Caroline County adopts advertised tax schedule; real estate rate set at $0.52 per $100 after public hearing",3685,5810000,9495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89&start=5810&end=9495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107888-19b84d018bc14bd319a1c3bd96627f89/thumbnail_5810000.jpg","/articles/6263410/Caroline-County/Virginia/Caroline-County-adopts-advertised-tax-schedule-real-estate-rate-set-at-052-per-100-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263410-3e2db25ac555ef111ce37058ec2d2309/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146104&Signature=E2gaj6ceXRD6qDj1F~K2CB1k0CHLEBBgAD1bRmlxklEUSZZcVXd9a~bLqT4LUMR5xk5DtOWb639atle8TY1fu0TkbtNsNnMQy8bJOVhJf6Lqhqh0PAGOVuNQ43KwXpzUBnhf4rBdNFrr5VrMiMwAtxMRnUk5DsnaQpkmhOJOP3tDFj4w1rdrKv6nZ24tuDrnYxt72kNlTKvT4jV9A4eoQk7MWvM3m9XEdzYHjB0ig~x7Pmsu0CessZhj7Q988WSXYBOyQbRSEdXnULS7n~raDn2ThmrCvA-MsLF08iAdXVl2DCh5h9zQSmalPmWUEmWAAOQA9E1~ZiyIc-UBFWwStw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved the advertised 2025 tax schedule, including a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax to $0.52 per $100 of assessed value, following a public hearing that drew concern about the county’s reassessment timeline.

County staff explained the notice process required by the Code of Virginia and said that, because the county’s total assessed value calculation for the equalized rate excluded new construction (approximately $133.8 million), the equalized rate used for the hearing was 50¢ and a 2¢ increase would result in a 52¢ levy. Finance staff told supervisors that each one‑cent change in the real estate rate produces roughly $554,648 in recurring revenue for the county.

Two residents who spoke during the public hearing said they had not yet received reassessment notices and warned that the reassessment results—some property values rose sharply—made it difficult for taxpayers to judge the impact. One speaker told the board she believed assessments had risen “out of proportion” and urged supervisors to keep the rate “as low as possible.” Another speaker, a retiree, said she could not assess financial impact because she had not received a notice.

Board members discussed timing and statutory notice requirements. County staff and the contracted assessor (Cowan company) explained that, because the reassessment work required a 90‑day extension this cycle and statutory language requires certain information on the reassessment notice, the county needed the tax-rate decision to allow printing and mailing of notices and to meet the treasurer’s legal billing deadlines. Supervisors discussed postponing billing deadlines but staff warned a delay would affect the treasurer’s ability to meet the statutorily required minimum mailing window.

Supervisor Thomas proposed the advertised schedule (52¢); the motion was seconded and passed by the board. Vote tally recorded in the meeting: Supervisor Black — aye; Supervisor Thomas — no; Supervisor Forehand — aye; Supervisor Sealy — aye; Supervisor Underwood — no. (Board staff confirmed the majority carried the motion.)

Ending: Staff said reassessment notices and appeal instructions would be mailed once the rate was adopted and that citizens could pursue value appeals through the contracted assessor and, if needed, the Board of Equalization.","After a public hearing and citizen comments about reassessment timing, the Board of Supervisors approved the advertised tax schedule that sets the 2025 real estate tax at 52 cents per $100 of assessed value; other rates were left unchanged.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Caroline County board expands architect RFP to include schools, bus garage; approves $600,000 appropriation

Board approves two nominations to Caroline County Board of Equalization

Supervisors raise questions about data center water permits and reuse; DEQ guidance discussed

Caroline County adopts advertised tax schedule; real estate rate set at $0.52 per $100 after public hearing