Mr. Hathaway, staff member, presented a proposed agreement to renew the county’s contract with Capital Square Strategies for lobbying and government relations services in FY26. Hathaway said the same firm worked for the county in the prior fiscal year and helped advance county priorities in the General Assembly, including work that benefited Colonial Downs and VDOT schedule matters.

Miss Stewart said she has scrutinized the cost but argued the firm’s prior work produced benefits in the recent legislative session. “$72,000 is a one‑person salary for a year but it got us millions this past General Assembly session,” Stewart said, and moved to authorize the agreement and appropriate $72,000 from the Colonial Downs reserve for the FY26 budget.

Board action: the motion to authorize the county administrator to execute the agreement, in a form approved by the county attorney, not to exceed $72,000, and to appropriate $72,000 from the Colonial Downs Reserve for future appropriations, passed unanimously on roll call.

Next steps: the county administrator will execute the contract and staff will monitor lobbying activities and outcomes; fund appropriation moves the $72,000 into the FY26 operating budget.