[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",6187944,"mediaKeyId","5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8","parentId",5064175,"title","Board schedules public hearing to review PSA ordinance; administrator proposes county oversight of PSA funds","audioSeconds",482,"startMs",1991000,"endMs",2473000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8&start=1991&end=2473","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8/thumbnail_1991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6187944/Russell-County/Virginia/Board-schedules-public-hearing-to-review-PSA-ordinance-administrator-proposes-county-oversight-of-PSA-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187944-2ad1470426a5962ab783428ef2af4065/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922407&Signature=eGMluUZMPX5kwUk4BFXISGizrXPKhbSj0LgeI9wBMuv0PQL0IYq1H2qYQ2kix42AorhK~CPfuOsMJTrBKDZKf3rYy4bp4yzAlpp7JaiXe4DOpzxbSCLyDBqn8okUSk1izCmsrlpe9XDTOs-LF-61yZVlXES3cqgsp2yNYDOX~~n3Okytwy6JtsBDqk~QDrKX5JXxX68tRVcbz1i2mxpi-GMozlqOSQnqSmWjW~bWW-ktSYZ2-FReZNrs8zoeoA0BCvwHcClhbglzEEjqgENQ~sW~NIXLjchhP2fQY-Jpn5ZQfNg2YA-0fGrX~YtbYiYtSDhVH2TM0Kl83zPDXDU~BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Russell County, VA","date","2025-06-25T12:44:08.577Z","article","The Russell County Board of Supervisors scheduled a public hearing in July to review and update the Public Service Authority (PSA) ordinance and discussed potential changes to how PSA funds and billing are managed.

County Administrator Lonzo Lester said the PSA currently holds roughly $490,000 in reserve for bonding requirements and suggested modifying the ordinance so those funds would sit in a restricted account in the county treasurer’s office. Lester said such a change would require agreement from the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) and other lending entities but would keep oversight and excess revenues visible to the county.

Board members and staff discussed alternatives for PSA billing and collection, including continuing PSA billing as a separate invoice or adding a utility-based collection handled by a third party; the board noted prior discussions about a fee structure and that any change should account for existing bond covenants and the PSA’s role. Ben Chaffin was mentioned as assisting staff on the topic.

The board directed staff to place the PSA-ordinance review on the July agenda for a public hearing to consider updates to the ordinance and associated billing or transfer arrangements. Lester said county staff will evaluate covenant and audit implications, and that any movement of restricted funds back to the county would be subject to VRA and other creditor approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Russell County Board of Supervisors - June 24th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors set a July public hearing on the public-service authority (PSA) ordinance and discussed moving PSA reserves into a county-restricted account and county billing for trash services.","taxTitle","Russell County, Virginia","taxId",38123,"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},6187949,"Supervisors approve one-time $1,000 bonus for full-time county employees, $500 for part-time",632,767000,1399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8&start=767&end=1399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8/thumbnail_767000.jpg","/articles/6187949/Russell-County/Virginia/Supervisors-approve-one-time-1000-bonus-for-full-time-county-employees-500-for-part-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187949-7432549f1a5eb2a0846fc3e1204f9e24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922407&Signature=IJ2nUFNp5A3b5eAQLezVQBW1~O7Fgd6yGeGLfPjubhzKaqBMnJ~-yVsHWV3IAxV0pCF3W1pEcOHLVUtcsSCBqBlyohqiPScASWJOOLACtApNlbkYFICj1x~o9OwGDEt1Ay9WJGb1dl1sGVNxoiAprisVoRBOQmb4aztffsyFdgXz4GwaTW7tGfybxVTxU1kYfaf9k8P7hSPSZiWi4HUf~FwsCIzZFscw5vBV7qvQfO7gDGX0H0vJUFkT9OOWI5F0wVOhGn5d5iNu1rLgeDGnlkcVklrbZOUDiApINjeXXJkeqrWj~krrznkOXQkollPdysV3jbklYuDw2rquIwZtPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Russell County Board of Supervisors approved a one-time bonus to county employees — $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees — to equalize compensation after the state and school board actions on a 1.5% bonus for certain positions.

Lonzo Lester, Russell County administrator, told the board the state paid $74,059.74 to cover the 1.5% bonus for SOQ (Standards of Quality) positions and constitution officers, and that bringing all county employees up to a $1,000 full-time bonus would cost $134,516.21 in total. Lester said the difference — $60,555.47 — would be covered by school reversion funds that a school official had agreed to return to the county, and that approximately $20,000 would be needed to cover part-time employee bonuses.

A motion to provide a $1,000 bonus for full-time county employees and $500 for part-time employees was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members and the administrator discussed timing and cash flow; Lester said the reversion funds will be received and restricted in the treasurer’s office for the new fiscal year and that the bonus is a one-time payment that will not affect future payrolls.

Lester also noted that some constitution officers receive more than $1,000 from the state 1.5% payment and that the board cannot reduce amounts paid by the state; the board’s action supplements those who received less than the $1,000 benchmark. The administrator said staff will coordinate timing with payroll so payments can be made once the funds are received and processed.","The board approved a one-time bonus to equalize pay increases tied to a state 1.5% school funding bonus; county staff said school reversion funds will cover most of the cost.",{"_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},6187954,"Russell County Board adopts FY2025–26 budget and tax rates",1562,221000,1783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8&start=221&end=1783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064175-4d9266c71151a77833538e0ea09e2bf8/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6187954/Russell-County/Virginia/Russell-County-Board-adopts-FY202526-budget-and-tax-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187954-b99844af12462c0b1a8abcca1f69f11f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922407&Signature=AVaNkII2FHXM1360nPpTF7k~ivC8kQTqlpsq6W91Huq6qYU-YC4jaBegvZxL9gd~BvBa2Nfxspv7u4wNFQaddNVUrnOMmk~4b5xsnwIHaqlSSkgzbh8IhpDcXngzGRnsnk4srniuvwsPoFBziqLyhUxA8lBeefILU~7d2RuKE1fxPv1tFhVXAT27cqT~dpNkmhgsy7e9VuKOL7e2TBzq0eQeScfb9HPiSsWxppTm6Lb9XKKmMK3Z4IxmPjAGDsnSsl3sPNv4hd0juTjB2DDcSJBccAN9-yuvlZE73-P9fJZTJvtHS2tyREjpGxD4v6TZrZ1~lyjtNxXIct~a-F-bGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Russell County Board of Supervisors adopted the countywide fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set the county tax rates following a presentation by County Administrator Lonzo Lester and a roll-call vote at the June reconvened meeting.

Lonzo Lester, Russell County administrator, told the board the proposed fiscal year runs July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and described it as a “living, breathing document that is modifiable throughout the year,” noting allocations across education, public safety, judicial administration and other county services. He said the board had worked through the budget in earlier sessions and described the general fund and special funds as part of the comprehensive countywide plan.

The board set the real-estate and mobile-home tax rate at 0.579; personal property and machine-and-tool remained at 1.95; and merchants’ capital at 0.65, according to figures presented by the administrator. Tyler, county attorney, reminded the board that the final vote on the budget resolution required a roll-call vote recording each member’s name as the resolution states.

A motion to adopt the budget resolution was moved and seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with these results: Supervisor Andrew Hensley — No; Supervisor Lou Wallace — Yes; Supervisor Tara Dye — No; Supervisor Steve Breeding — Yes; Supervisor Rebecca Dye — Yes; Supervisor Nate Keiser — No; Chairman (unnamed) — Yes. The county administrator and staff said auditors will reconcile year-end adjustments after June 30 and that some revenue streams may arrive after the fiscal year close, creating timing-related cash-flow adjustments.

During discussion, Lester cautioned that some revenue lines (mineral tax, public service taxes) were behind projections and that the county might need to shift cash between revenue streams to meet obligations as collections arrive. He urged the board to monitor cash flow during the first six months and said the board retains authority to amend appropriations during the fiscal year.

The board adopted the formal resolution approving allocations and appropriations and directed staff to finalize required documentation for the auditors and for public records.","The Russell County Board of Supervisors adopted the countywide fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set tax rates after a presentation by the county administrator and a roll-call vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board schedules public hearing to review PSA ordinance; administrator proposes county oversight of PSA funds

Supervisors approve one-time $1,000 bonus for full-time county employees, $500 for part-time

Russell County Board adopts FY2025–26 budget and tax rates