Board sets public hearing for FY26 carryovers, transfers $2.24 million for connector road to reserves

The Wythe County Board of Supervisors on June 30 set a July 22 public hearing to amend the FY26 budget for proposed carryovers and approved a transfer of $2,242,776 into a reserve for a connector road project.

County Administrator Barrett presented a draft of carryovers the board received that morning, describing roughly $38,000,000 in proposed carryovers, with most tied to water and wastewater projects (Barrett described roughly $40,000,000 in water/wastewater items). He identified $2,300,000 for the connector road and about $2,000,000 in other capital projects in the draft; Barrett said one large wastewater expansion (about $8,000,000) will be removed from the carryover list pending further information on the Blue Star project.

Barrett asked the board to set a public hearing for July 22 on the carryovers; the motion to set the hearing was moved and approved. He also asked the board to authorize staff to accept a victim-witness grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; the board approved that grant acceptance after a motion by Mr. Cook and a second by Mr. Smith (roll call approved).

Later in the meeting, a separate motion moved $2,242,776 into a reserve fund for the connector road project; the board approved that transfer by roll call. The budget committee’s June 25 recommendations — including carrying $449,628 in unexpended funds to FY26 for the cost of three new school buses — were moved and approved in committee reports presented at the meeting.

County staff also told the board they received nearly $3.9 million in reimbursement last week from BEDP for infrastructure improvements tied to the Blue Star project and that additional budget items and codification updates would be returned for board review in July.

Barrett said a final carryover packet will be available for the budget committee to review before the next board meeting.