Libraries, shelters, arts and social-service agencies present funding requests at Rockbridge budget meeting

Representatives of the Rockbridge Regional Library System, two food-and-housing assistance organizations, the Lime Kiln Theatre, the Rockbridge SPCA, the Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) and the Talking Book Center each presented funding requests and program updates to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors during the county's budget meeting.

Julie Gleyette, representing the Rockbridge Regional Library System and joined by Harper Donahoe, chair of the library's board of trustees, requested a draft operating allocation of $786,321 for fiscal 2026, a 16% increase from the current budget. The presentation listed factors behind the increase, including planned restroom renovations in Lexington, a library catalog upgrade, an estimated 18% rise in health-insurance costs (the library said it had conservatively budgeted 20% pending final figures), and a proposed 4% cost-of-living pay increase for staff.

Lindsay Perez, speaking for RARA (presented in materials as "Robert Gerio Relief Association"), asked the county to continue funding at $12,000 for fiscal year 2026, equal to the prior allocation. Perez said RARA recorded 10,902 visits last year (about 909 visits per month), a 69% increase compared with 2019; she told the board the organization estimates the in-kind grocery value to Rockbridge County households at about $871,000 and the broader service-area value at about $1.3 million. RARA also reported $260,000 in emergency utility and housing assistance in 2024, including about $55,000 in energy-share funds the presenter said come to Rockbridge County.

Jeremy Franklin, presenting for Lime Kiln Theatre, requested $15,000 in funding (the split proposed was $10,500 from Rockbridge County and $4,500 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership matching grant). Franklin said Lime Kiln hosted 14 concerts in 2024 (12 sold out) and sold more than 9,000 tickets across the season; the organization also partners with local festivals and fundraisers and reported $70,000 to $80,000 in annual site maintenance and capital expenses.

Tara Rody presented the Rockbridge SPCA's operating update. Rody reported more than 6,000 visitors to the shelter last year, intake of 288 dogs and 298 cats, and a dog save rate of about 94% and a cat save rate of 93%. She said the shelter is exploring converting a rental house on its site into a low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic funded from its endowment (estimated cost cited as about $400,000) and noted the county's portion of the shelter's budget proposal decreased by more than $4,000 compared with the prior year; the precise county allocation figure was not specified during the presentation.

Melissa Sayre, executive with VPAS (Valley Program for Aging Services), described services for older adults including Meals on Wheels (delivered up to four days per week), transportation to non-emergency medical appointments, Medicare counseling and case management. Sayre asked the county to maintain funding at $33,000 and described recent emergency client cases and the social-service role volunteers and staff provide.

Aaliyah, representing the Talking Book Center, outlined services that provide free audio and braille materials to people who are blind or print-disabled across a multi-county service area and said the center serves roughly 300 people in the region; the Talking Book Center said its tangible items and shipping are provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and the service is free to patrons.

County staff told the board that the finance committee will continue a more in-depth budget review and that the county faces a significant gap between revenues and expenditures in the upcoming budget cycle; no formal funding allocations were decided at the meeting. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and the board voted to adjourn by roll call.