Rockbridge County supervisors weigh tax increases, cuts to close $708,709 FY26 budget gap

Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors members on Monday reviewed a draft FY2026 budget that staff said carries a $708,709 gap and debated options to close it, including cuts, modest tax increases and use of cash reserves. The board did not adopt a budget and set deadlines for further review and a finance-committee meeting ahead of a planned April 14 advertisement and an April 28 public hearing.

Ashland Harrison, the staff member who presented the memo, told the board “the current draft before you … has a budget gap of negative $708,709.” He said total estimated revenues are $64,091,878, including $4,626,299 in planned use of reserves for capital projects and restricted reserves from EMS recovery fees; total expenses in the draft were $64,800,587. Harrison said the draft includes $3,913,796 for capital projects and that the county is estimating a 97% collection rate on property taxes.

The session focused on three broad levers to close the shortfall: cuts to departmental or discretionary spending, increasing revenues through tax rate changes, and using fund balance for one-time capital needs. Supervisors discussed examples and trade-offs rather than taking formal action.…