[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6210984,"mediaKeyId","3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418","parentId",3701956,"title","Northumberland supervisors convene closed meeting for personnel and contract discussions, later certify return to public session","audioSeconds",206,"startMs",3520000,"endMs",3726000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418&start=3520&end=3726","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418/thumbnail_3520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210984/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Northumberland-supervisors-convene-closed-meeting-for-personnel-and-contract-discussions-later-certify-return-to-public-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210984-3dc8f668f4b047278836acfc02115e06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442921&Signature=MQ2xutVy-M4XQGCoZaL6A84fvGbJYoXx27a8~jqVfqVFWTi~798pRXnyYgsd0ZeoUVi9gesPTFueI6bP7T7Kb3V4mFPqNFPZdyBFSxSzlKJR-FWZLRr7S19rpoxaql0OhEYH23ipyVlYwjnSapnBtyncEy31ASM2fbYDdPZbh~fg329628s4gYLZV2f3HS7otxlxSLnm4F8Tu26h7tcbNvkq~3pkT0gQgR2mKUoRjy2MfY3sKY5otuunncxbT84k4t9B0A-5AdJpAltD1hmBxaOwPcVUneqJNFV9vd~1xqgn8xoYj0IzmuXay2GBSQoV0JEiRjk6zb88r-fDpsrITg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northumberland County, VA","date","2025-06-06T15:30:15Z","article","On June 5 the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted to convene in a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, citing sections 2.2-3711(A)(1) for personnel matters and 2.2-3711(A)(29) for discussion of a public contract award where open discussion would harm the county’s bargaining position.

The motion invited the county administrator and assistant county administrator to attend as necessary; supervisors later amended the motion to include an additional staff member they identified in the meeting. After the closed session the board returned to public meeting and asked for a roll-call certification that only those lawfully exempted matters had been heard, discussed or considered. The roll-call recorded affirmatives from multiple supervisors (Williams, Brand and Fisher, among others).

No further public action on personnel or the contract was taken at the June 5 meeting. The board voted to carry over remaining business until June 10 at 1 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northumberland Board of Supervisors - Special Called Meeting - 6/5/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Supervisors voted to meet in closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss personnel matters and a public-contract award; the board later returned to open session and certified by roll call that only permitted topics were discussed.","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},6210989,"Northumberland County presents $49.13M proposed FY26 budget with 8¢ tax-rate increase; board warned of dwindling reserves",1892,1384000,3276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418&start=1384&end=3276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418/thumbnail_1384000.jpg","/articles/6210989/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Northumberland-County-presents-4913M-proposed-FY26-budget-with-8-tax-rate-increase-board-warned-of-dwindling-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210989-0fd26a03731cecbf48f378a8c8632608/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442921&Signature=PItdpbgR-7QHvZFk5UH3ucNbUQWySkHuuCOEgHhNe7KliSJaRjfzFinBLajzQl-8wYVBxx4WFB07lRDDCjxvnsYNKhgWNeoq0lpmM3HOQdfxG8qnU04LupmFw2N5rNStS8TO-8-~le2ZibtlzZysth9i8H~a7uSgJT5nXrjSYGjh2AS9i5Gmu~jIEdIEU1P1VVGORhaeS4yFoAHee1Pm9HrCGuiyF87zCuhObFU8I1bnWjEjuDYlyk5EtbeWAYo3AZjeM3TmOc11qF8i1Sre3yGjg6uiNhBPQTBMMGr~x7P3cm7lefikmjjOb3xS2kGldHRaU4arVohIhmlFJlJx2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a June 5 public hearing, Northumberland County officials presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 county budget of $49,130,222 that includes an 8¢ increase in the real-estate tax rate and a change returning the vehicle personal-property assessed ratio from 35% back to 40%.

Mister Tadlock, presenting the budget to the Board of Supervisors, said no action would be taken at the meeting because the Code of Virginia requires a seven-day waiting period before adoption. He also said the presented figures do not include cuts departments may later propose.

Several public speakers urged the board to prioritize public-safety and social-services pay. Sheriff Beauchamp asked supervisors to \"invest in public safety,\" warning that without raises the sheriff’s office will be less competitive in recruiting and retaining deputies, dispatchers and support staff. \"If we do not get raises, I'm feel fearful of those ones who are on the edge of leaving will, and why shouldn't they?\" the sheriff said.

Deborah Whaley, a certified public accountant and former finance director for Westmoreland County, urged deeper expenditure reductions to protect the county’s unrestricted fund balance. She cited the fiscal 2024 audit showing an unassigned fund balance of about $7,000,000 (approximately 19% of general fund expenditures) and said the proposed FY26 budget would reduce the undesignated general fund balance to about 3.8%, which she described as a risk to borrowing capacity and financial stability.

Speakers representing social services outlined specific local-match needs to accept state-authorized employee bonuses and raises. Murthea Haney, chair of the Northumberland Board of Social Services, said the DSS received $11,232 from the state for a 1.5% bonus but would need $3,769 in local dollars to apply it; she said state funding for a 3% raise totaled $29,830 and that the local match to apply that raise would be about $5,190. Haney warned that failing to provide the small local matches would force the department to return roughly $40,000 to the state rather than distribute it as intended.

Board members acknowledged the budget would require dipping into the undesignated general fund balance. County staff estimated the board would need to draw roughly $1,300,000 from reserves for the proposal as presented, reducing the balance to roughly $1,600,000. Supervisors said multiple work sessions will be required to reconcile department requests, potential cuts and how to rebuild the contingency fund for future years.

No adoption vote occurred; the board reiterated that statutory notice requirements prevent immediate action and that supervisors will set follow-up meetings to review budgets, contingency impacts and employee-compensation options.","The county announced a proposed fiscal 2026 budget of $49,130,222 that would include an 8¢ increase in the real-estate tax rate and return vehicle personal-property assessment to 40%. Speakers at the public hearing urged funding for public safety and social services and flagged that the plan would require dipping into reserves.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210993,"Public hearing on Northumberland school budget spotlights $1.2M county funding request, contract payout and staffing questions",0,1325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418&start=1325&end=1325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3701956-4e2ef8a99810d2eca29e6acf7cf4a418/thumbnail_1325000.jpg","/articles/6210993/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Public-hearing-on-Northumberland-school-budget-spotlights-12M-county-funding-request-contract-payout-and-staffing-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210993-acc95098ba2f62faaf4794ec0425f728/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442921&Signature=aDOom-neCDnQwE4C1uBGEuFFFuFbd588SX8TcxPIyFCg3Y5tB8iPp21moecc17oQg0fppveBzF8~w6nH3S-QK71NFPS3BiTNNnRYwh1RrpqS8ohySxeI0SHR-FnHyBD5Er-rRvjREHJDFnujxEasxpgg2P8EgqA7KWTJqYxilon25PXeby4vzBjo7h349mz9YxZzwijdV9GzVX1bPqPDgjbhKfMO5jjOrR-vu0nMkW9o~~58cvjy9~QL7kuzEI-eQ1Y8BMoGJIlBPaf8UHMpxGAyURj9iXIU82pjssvsC33fVKTowxmwZlwJKvUl8QLq3~USHSh-Uf3bAWukepk5~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a June 5 public hearing in the Northumberland County courtroom, county and school officials presented the Northumberland County School Division’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which requests an additional $1,216,587 in county funding and lists $23,535,083 in estimated revenue and $22,655,990 in estimated expenditures.

The proposed increase and a large rise in an “executive administrative services” line item drew public criticism and questions about a contract payout tied to a terminated superintendent. Dr. Leslie, the school division official who prepared the budget, told the board she discovered an error in the posted expenditures and revenue because federal expenses were submitted separately and that, when federal expenses are added, the division is not showing excess revenue. She also said she had produced multiple budget versions and “without modifying any employee compensation, I've already managed to shave $737,000 from that amount.”

The hearing’s first public commenter, Jason Smart of Heastville, criticized the size of the increase in the executive administrative services line. \"The taxpayers of this county do not support that. I certainly don't, and everyone I've talked with does not also,\" Smart said, adding the line item appears to account for much of the requested increase and that it looked like a roughly 53% rise.

A school board member explained the administrative increase is tied in part to a contractual payout for a former employee. \"That particular line item has to do with a payout for a former employee and one of the contingencies of the contract,\" Dr. Leslie said when asked to explain the line-item increase. During the hearing another school board member read a portion of state statute related to superintendent termination and contract payouts, saying that the contract clause required a public notice and payout under the contract terms. The board member stated the contract ended when that clause was read in public notice and that the division had paid the individual for four additional weeks.

Several speakers urged faster hiring of a county finance manager or similar financial oversight to prevent future errors. A resident who addressed the board said hiring an outside manager or employee at roughly $150,000 a year could yield savings and that duplicative financial management between the county and schools should be avoided. Multiple commenters urged the school board to support Dr. Leslie and to ensure the new superintendent and finance staff have what they need to stabilize finances.

School officials also described state-provided funds for educator bonuses and raises. Division staff said bonuses for SOQ (Standards of Quality) positions arrived via an EDI transfer and that those funds, described as one-time bonuses, could be allocated without a local match; by contrast, state-authorized raises discussed by the governor would require local implementation choices. The division reported it had prepared budget versions showing the impact of different raise percentages (5%, 3%, 1.25%) so supervisors could see options.

No formal action on the school budget occurred at the meeting. Supervisors said work sessions will be scheduled to review budget details and asked the school division for additional breakdowns, including contingency impacts. The board noted the statutory deadline for superintendent contract completion and that county supervisors and the school board are separate elected bodies; one supervisor recommended the boards coordinate on nonconfidential input.

The hearing closed after public comment and the supervisors moved on to the county budget hearing later in the meeting.","At a June 5 public hearing, the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors heard comments on the school division’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget, a requested $1,216,587 increase in county funding, an executive-administration spending increase tied to a contract payout and questions about hiring a finance manager and superintendent contract timing.","actionData","errors"]

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Northumberland supervisors convene closed meeting for personnel and contract discussions, later certify return to public session

Northumberland County presents $49.13M proposed FY26 budget with 8¢ tax-rate increase; board warned of dwindling reserves

Public hearing on Northumberland school budget spotlights $1.2M county funding request, contract payout and staffing questions