Roanoke Valley Resource Authority board adopts $19.1 million budget; council approves city share

The Roanoke Valley Resource Authority board adopted a $19,116,734 combined operating and capital budget for fiscal 2025–26, representing a roughly $2.37 million (14%) increase over the prior year, Authority CEO John Lanford told Roanoke City Council on April 7. Council subsequently approved a resolution endorsing the budget.

Lanford said the increase is driven chiefly by revenue tied to a renewable natural gas project at the Smith Gap landfill (the project developer identified in the presentation as Archaea, now acquired by BP). The authority expects approximately $831,000 in royalty payments in the coming fiscal year based on conservative gas production assumptions; Lanford said the figure may grow if production increases.

The adopted budget includes a $1.50 per‑ton increase for contracted municipal waste (about a 2.7% rate increase), which Lanford said would raise Roanoke City's annual bill by $64,850. He noted the $1.50 increase nets the authority about $30,000 in additional revenue and that the board set a June 25 public hearing to finalize member rates.

The authority also proposed a $1/ton increase for wood waste (from $38 to $39 per ton) to cover costs and said new revenue will allow replacement of aging fleet equipment.

Why it matters: The authority handles municipal waste for multiple local governments; rate changes and new revenue streams affect municipal budgets and regional waste management planning. The project's revenue also enabled capital spending that had been deferred.

Council action: Council adopted a resolution approving the authority's 2025–26 budget by roll call (all members voting "Aye").

Ending: Lanford said the authority will present to Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton next week as part of the member review process.