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Pittsylvania supervisors approve resolution to seek up to $24.48 million in state Literary Fund loans; school budget headed to final vote May 20
Summary
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing county schools to apply for Literary Fund loans of up to $24,482,838 to fund HVAC work and an addition at four elementary schools; the proposed FY2026 school budget will be considered for final approval May 20 after a seven-day layover.
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors on May 13 unanimously approved a resolution authorizing county schools to file applications with the Commonwealth's Literary Fund for an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $24,482,838 to finance improvements at four elementary schools.
The loans would fund estimated HVAC upgrades at Chatham Elementary, Hart Elementary and Mount Airy Elementary and an addition at Union Hall Elementary. County staff said the Literary Fund loan is expected at about 2 percent interest and that the county's dedicated 1 percent local sales tax fund would be used to repay the loan, avoiding use of the general fund.
At a public hearing before the vote, Thomas Coleman, vice chair of the Danville Blair Center League, told the board, "I'm here tonight to endorse the school board budget." Finance staff member Miss Vanderheide described the loan program as "another opportunity for our school system to borrow loans from the Virginia Department of Education. It is a literary fund loan that is offered by the state of Virginia." Vanderheide said the loan application deadline was imminent and that draws on approved loans can be made as expenditures occur.
The resolution approved mirrors a school board resolution and was recorded as Resolution No. 2025-05-01. A board member moved the measure, another seconded it, and the motion passed unanimously. The motion text authorized county schools to file one or more applications to the Literary Fund in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $24,482,838. (The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous.)
Separately, the board held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal-year 2026 Pittsylvania County school budget. County staff reported the school budget totals $132,471,056, including a local contribution from the general fund of $26,370,554. Under state procedures cited by staff, the school budget must lay over for seven days; it is scheduled for final consideration at the board's May 20 meeting.
Discussion at the May 13 meeting focused on program details, project estimates and repayment sources; staff described the project cost figures as estimates and said the schools would pursue grants and other funding to reduce the borrowings. The board did not alter the school budget at the May 13 meeting and took formal action only on the Literary Fund resolution.
Funding details provided by staff listed the following project cost estimates (described as estimates by staff): Chatham Elementary HVAC, $7,018,000; Hart Elementary HVAC, $8,000,002.28; Mount Airy Elementary HVAC, $5,687,000; Union Hall Elementary addition, $3,549,838. Staff said the dollar amounts represent maximum estimated project totals and that final costs and funding mixes could change.
The board publicly thanked county finance staff for preparing the budget materials and presentations. The school budget public hearing record will remain open during the seven-day layover required by procedure before a final vote on May 20.
