[{"_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",6585340,"mediaKeyId","5680766-68f2745f392659e795ce3bc4c2cda808","parentId",5680766,"title","Finance committee approves firefighter gear grant, recommends kinship navigator grant, continues drug-testing funding; reviews revenue update","audioSeconds",527,"startMs",1221000,"endMs",1748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680766-68f2745f392659e795ce3bc4c2cda808&start=1221&end=1748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680766-68f2745f392659e795ce3bc4c2cda808/thumbnail_1221000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585340/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Finance-committee-approves-firefighter-gear-grant-recommends-kinship-navigator-grant-continues-drug-testing-funding-reviews-revenue-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585340-8054a6836d2731455804e0536cfcd85d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770325078&Signature=RI5WhbbAuTjFbbyIMM7Gs1~ZgfICViK3Xat~ARh2JSjzkJO8TL-CQyiXvq1xyTTOnUxSCSnrE8i0VnqgTTxSURPbaa5-PSX74tuFoviGi0X7gXx2dQuGHFpl9mk9BqcXAlWLnn7Wb27IptO4j4w8Bk5cJQ~6i7YF~cDZ8RyDEu5v11~zkjzu~sUAmvkSS65qJxJO-LkkLWOKg4n-AnHCoOH-aerNT7Uy7atub8Ht7GLk0YGOhpK1-LvvKbox6-3SbsrzU7MWhd~eE5kFKNRoEigKzka9vDlpGqjPbBLgi~n9T15PxhT5xvecQ~Yi7j9UTKwgwQBQ00kEbpQXNJ3rpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lynchburg","date","2025-08-26T20:02:17.46Z","article","The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee on Aug. 26 approved or recommended several grant actions and received updates on contingency reserves and revenue collections.

Chief Wormser presented a grant application to the committee: \"Before you today, is a grant application, to be finalized in the amount of $96,281 to purchase 14 sets of turnout gear for our firefighters. The this particular grant is a nonmatching grant,\" he said. The committee moved approval; a voice vote recorded \"aye\" and no opposing votes were noted in the transcript.

April Watson presented a Virginia Department of Social Services kinship navigator grant awarded to the city. \"We were awarded this grant by the Virginia Department of Social Services in the amount of $94,909,\" Watson said. She said the funding will establish a kinship navigator program, hire a dedicated staff member to case manage and connect kinship caregivers to resources, and provide outreach materials. Watson told the committee the award came with a quick turnaround and the grant is for one year; she said the position would be identified as grant-funded. The committee moved to recommend the grant to the full city council; a voice vote recorded \"aye.\"

Taylor Jones spoke for the Lynchburg Circuit Court's adult recovery court about continuing a grant from the Supreme Court of Virginia for statewide universal drug testing. \"If awarded these funds would pay for lab drug testing with our drug testing partner Aber Health as well as other drug testing supplies,\" Jones said. Jones said there is no cash match; one committee member clarified the program expects an in-kind 25% match consisting of staff time for probation officers and program staff. The committee moved and approved continuation of the grant by voice vote.

Donna Witt reviewed the general fund contingency and monthly revenue collections. She said the fiscal-year 2026 reserve for contingency is $1,200,000, including $50,000 of the city manager's discretionary funding. On revenues, Witt said June was a stronger month: \"Finally got our June numbers, and, happy to report that June was a better month. So, our sales tax, we came in about a 175,000 above what we projected, ending the year with about $605,000 above budget,\" she said. Witt also reported the city ended the year about $822,000 below projections on meals tax and about $430,000 below on lodging tax, while consumer utility tax and amusement tax finished nearer to projections.

Why it matters: The turnout gear grant funds essential protective equipment for firefighters. The kinship navigator grant provides a one-year position and services for relatives and family members caring for children. The drug-testing grant supports recovery court operations that staff and council described as part of rehabilitation efforts. Revenue updates highlight pressures in meals and lodging taxes that affect the city's general fund outlook.

What happens next: The turnout gear and drug-testing grants were approved by the committee to proceed; the kinship navigator award was recommended to the full city council for adoption. Staff will proceed with grant execution and hiring as allowed by each grant's terms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee Meeting/Work Session 8-26-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee on Aug. 26 approved a $96,281 Department of Fire Programs grant to buy 14 sets of turnout gear, recommended a $94,909 kinship navigator grant to the full council, approved the circuit court's statewide drug-testing grant continuation, and reviewed general fund reserves and monthly revenue collections.","taxTitle","Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia","taxId",3745,"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},6585345,"Finance committee backs low-cost loan, $24.7M principal forgiveness for Blackwater CSO tunnel",590,617000,1207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680766-68f2745f392659e795ce3bc4c2cda808&start=617&end=1207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680766-68f2745f392659e795ce3bc4c2cda808/thumbnail_617000.jpg","/articles/6585345/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Finance-committee-backs-low-cost-loan-247M-principal-forgiveness-for-Blackwater-CSO-tunnel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585345-b7b82c00507f46716074318ed45a2a3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770325078&Signature=bzaweGdwrn910NfCo6KsPsigMrz1xGkUKot7foZTuiD83JzVsZw6bEncGVvPStcUT2oGO7jI-6iUIsFpQhsmCKDYvlY5i856fSEqGWRVhOUq-ATjVa-DfnKxAWOS9AFKo40UiG59OzgKzC1iARgNISTUEiRnpsAvi9PeqZuBoU9TLCJvMBHxoQuZUilOcAep7O6LZ0lFSUHEd6x6mLLU8wYsjVJ3I0u0CVxqdSQXCGq6OAYOLwKlv9kMirxXXxJv5enhnohJyPT~XuzdxtDmOXRnOLEqfsvYB08UDeM9yE3lqewZ8FlSabzBriJnPaVIBp6lQfsl-mpui8tfd2BkCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee voted Aug. 26 to support a financing package for the Blackwater combined sewer overflow tunnel that pairs a low-interest loan with principal forgiveness from state programs. Tim Mitchell presented the proposal and answered committee questions.

Tim Mitchell said the city applied to the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund to pay the remaining balance of the tunnel project and was awarded $54,100,000. \"So there's another $25,000,000 that local sewer ratepayers will not have to pay because of the grant,\" Mitchell said. He told the committee the award includes $29,000,000 in a 25-year loan at a 0.5% interest rate and about $24,705,000 in principal forgiveness.

Mitchell summarized the project and the financing: the city's CSO-related appropriations total about $107,000,000, and the tunnel cost is \"a little over a $104,000,000.\" The city previously secured $50,000,000 in ARPA funds that required a $25,000,000 local match; Mitchell said the revolving loan can serve as that local match. He told the committee the loan repayment will begin six months after project completion.

Committee members praised the financing outcome and asked schedule questions. Mitchell said the project is on schedule and estimated a completion date of July 2027. He also said the city must spend the $50,000,000 in ARPA funding by Dec. 31, 2026, and that closing on the loan is expected in September to align with that schedule.

The committee voted to support the resolution authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds and acceptance of the principal forgiveness. A voice vote was recorded with committee members saying \"aye;\" no opposing votes were recorded on the transcript.

The packet for the item, as described in the presentation, recommends adopting a resolution to issue $29,395,000 in revenue bonds for a 25-year term at 0.5% interest, accept principal forgiveness of $24,705,000, and authorize the city manager, deputy city manager, and chief financial officer to execute necessary documents. Mitchell said a public hearing on the related revenue bonds will be held that evening.

Why it matters: Committee notes and the presenter described the tunnel as the largest capital project in Lynchburg's history, required to meet the CSO long-term control plan and state consent-order requirements and to restore sewer capacity for future upstream development.

What happens next: The committee's support sends the recommendation forward as described in the presentation and the city will proceed with closing the financing and completing required documentation.

","The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee voted Aug. 26 to support issuing $29.395 million in revenue bonds at 0.5% and to accept $24.705 million in principal forgiveness from state programs to fund the Blackwater combined sewer overflow (CSO) tunnel, completing financing for the city's largest capital project.","actionData","errors"]

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Finance committee approves firefighter gear grant, recommends kinship navigator grant, continues drug-testing funding; reviews revenue update

Finance committee backs low-cost loan, $24.7M principal forgiveness for Blackwater CSO tunnel