Carroll County supervisors abandon planned pool and new EMS building, reallocate funds to county general fund

At a regular meeting, the Carroll County Board of Supervisors voted to drop plans for a new community swimming pool and a new EMS building and to redirect previously set-aside project funds into the county's general fund to help close a projected budget shortfall.

Supervisor James Collins (full name per transcript: "Mister Collins") moved that the board "formally abandon the plans to construct both the pool and the EMS building," noting $3,500,000 had been allocated for the pool and $3,000,000 for an EMS facility. The motion initially included language to sell 1.82 acres acquired for the EMS facility; the board amended the motion to remove the sale of that parcel and to instead keep the land in county ownership. The amended motion also directed that $1,000,000 be held in the capital-improvement plan to renovate the existing EMS facility and that remaining project funds be returned to the general fund for use in balancing the FY2026 budget.

The amendment and the motion passed unanimously. Vote checks recorded responses from board members in roll-call order: Mister Moore: yes; Mister Horton: yes; Mister Bryant: yes; Mister Collins: yes; Mister Early: yes; and the chair recorded a yes vote. The final recorded vote on the amended motion was 6-0 in favor.

During discussion supervisors emphasized fiscal responsibility and the need to close an estimated budget gap without immediately raising the tax burden on residents. Several members urged caution about permanently abandoning the projects and agreed to retain the EMS parcel because of its strategic location near U.S. 52 and the bypass. Supervisor Early emphasized the property swap with VDOT that creates access to additional acreage and said retaining the parcel was prudent for long-term EMS planning.

Why it matters: The reallocations free up several million dollars that county leadership said can be used to reduce or avoid a tax-rate increase for FY2026 while preserving the county's option to invest in EMS capacity through renovation of existing facilities rather than new construction.

Next steps: The board directed staff to return the funds to the general fund and to work with the budget committee to apply available balances to the FY2026 budget as needed. Supervisors also left $1,000,000 in the CIP for evaluation and possible improvements to the existing EMS facility rather than immediate construction of a new building.