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Residents press council to protect school funding and transit; calls to preserve rainy‑day funds and invest in bus stops
Summary
At the April 21 public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 Roanoke budget, speakers urged council not to sweep school fund balances or cut school funding, called for full Valley Metro funding and bus stop improvements, and asked for recreational and parks investments such as Washington Park and the Roanoke River Greenway.
Roanoke residents used the April 21 public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 city budget to urge the City Council to preserve school funding, keep the school system’s rainy‑day fund intact and invest in transit and parks.
Nut graf: Speakers representing parents, school trustees, transit advocates, nonprofit groups and recreational leagues warned that level‑funding or cutting Roanoke City Public Schools would force layoffs, increase class sizes and undermine recent gains, and urged council to avoid sweeping reserve funds. Transit advocates asked for a dedicated line item for bus stop maintenance, full Valley Metro funding and continued support for Metro Flex. Other speakers asked the council to maintain or increase support for neighborhood rec clubs and to invest in outdoor infrastructure such as finishing the Roanoke River Greenway and reopening Roanoke Mountain Campground.
Body: The school board chair, Elizabeth C. S. Jamieson, told council she had learned that members were considering fully removing the school rainy‑day fund and urged them to reconsider, saying the superintendent planned to propose a one‑year use of the rainy‑day funds to bridge a $6.9 million shortfall. Jamieson and several former trustees and parents warned that sweeping the fund would lead to layoffs, larger class sizes and deferred capital projects. Multiple parents described heavy reliance on school supports including special education services, summer programs and in‑class aides, and said cuts would reduce students' opportunities and could weaken the city’s attractiveness to families.
Transit advocates from Bus Riders of Roanoke and Valley Metro asked council to fully fund transit operations and to create a recurring line item for bus‑stop improvements; speakers described faded signage, stops that lack shelters or pads and riders facing unsafe waiting conditions. Supporters also urged the council to maintain Metro Flex service and same‑day options that provide access to medical care and work shifts for people without cars.
Other public‑comment topics included requests for increased funding for recreational clubs and equipment (speakers said fees for league play are rising and some families need scholarships), support for Friends of Washington Park and its centennial activities including a planned pool, and an introduction from the Valley Outdoor Infrastructure Committee, which urged long‑term investment to finish the Roanoke River Greenway and reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground.
A small‑business owner who supplies school foodservice suggested the city review outsourcing arrangements to lower costs. Several speakers also raised transparency concerns, noting delays in publication of the city audit and asking that council not cut schools before full financial information is available.
Ending: Council closed the budget public hearing after several hours of testimony and recessed for five minutes. City staff and council will consider comments as they refine the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and prepare action at upcoming meetings.
