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Rockbridge supervisors adopt FY2026 budget, raise real‑property rate 3 cents and restore preschool funding
Summary
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on May 5 adopted the FY2026 operating budget and the FY2026–2030 capital improvement plan, approving a 3¢ increase in the real‑property tax rate and restoring funding for a preschool off‑the‑bus program.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2026 operating budget and the FY2026–2030 capital improvement plan during a May 5 budget meeting, approving a 3‑cent increase in the county’s real‑property tax rate and restoring county funding for a preschool off‑the‑bus program.
County staff presented the budget package to the board; the presentation showed a balanced general fund budget of $65,676,650, a capital construction fund budget of $2,215,225, a capital purchases fund of $873,019, and an ARPA fund of $883,879. County staff also proposed raising the real‑property tax rate from $0.61 to $0.64 and increasing personal property tax relief from 27% to 30%. Personal property tax rates, business personal property and machinery and tools rates were reported as unchanged.
The board restored county funding for the preschool off‑the‑bus program as directed in a prior public meeting; the county had received numerous public comments in favor of the program at the April 28 public hearing and in follow‑up correspondence. Meeting materials recorded 24 public comments at the hearing, 23 of which supported the preschool program, and staff said additional supportive letters arrived afterward.
A member of the meeting record noted a separate letter raising concerns about multiple budget topics and urging the board to consider funding options for the Department of Social Services building after congressionally directed funding that had been included in an earlier estimate was cut from a proposed FY2025 congressionally directed spending bill. Meeting material reviewed by the board said the project estimate had been developed during an interjurisdictional meeting with Lexington, Buena Vista and the Social Services Board on Jan. 30 and that the original borrowing plan included a 10% contingency and reflected a regional cost‑sharing formula rooted in a June 2023 agreement and ordinance. Officials told the board the remaining options to cover any shortfall would be to use additional reserves or to increase taxes.
On motions from the floor, the board voted unanimously to approve the FY2026 operating budget “as presented” and later voted unanimously to adopt the FY2026 CIP resolution. Votes recorded on the transcript show Supervisor McDaniel, Supervisor Lyons, Supervisor Day, Supervisor Lewis and Chair Harris voting in favor of both measures; both motions passed.
The meeting record shows brief discussion and gratitude to staff and the finance committee for their work on the budget; there was no extended debate recorded in the transcript excerpt, and no amendments or conditions to the adopted budget and CIP were shown. The board adjourned after the votes and returning from recess.
Looking ahead, the transcript notes the county’s prior commitment to the regional Social Services facility by agreement and ordinance in June 2023 and flags potential implementation risk for that project because of the lost congressionally directed funding and the remaining funding choices (reserves or higher taxes). The county did not adopt any separate action at the May 5 meeting specifically to replace the cut federal funding.
