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Board reorganizes for 2025, approves appointments, budgets and routine business; budget gap narrows
Summary
At its January meeting the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors completed annual reorganization, approved numerous commission appointments and leases, accepted transfers and accounts-payable lists, and received a budget update showing the preliminary FY26 budget gap narrowed to about $1.8 million after task-force recommendations.
Botetourt County supervisors completed their annual reorganization, established board leadership for 2025, approved a slate of committee and commission appointments, and conducted routine fiscal and administrative business at the January meeting.
Highlights
- Board reorganization: Supervisors elected Amy White as chair for 2025 and Dr. Scott Horn as vice chair. The board also approved Celeste Parker as deputy clerk and reaffirmed Robert LaRue (county clerk/parliamentarian duties referenced) in the clerk role. Election of leadership was by nomination and roll-call/voice votes as required. (Voice votes; motions carried.)
- Appointments: The board confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments, including Tim Snyder to the Planning Commission, Howard Shumate as a Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare alternate to the Community Policy and Management Team, Raquel Rogers (director of social services) to CPMT, Michael Hudson and Peggy Preston Fanny to the Historic Greenfield Advisory Council, and Donna Cox to the Citizen Commission for the Preservation of Historic Properties. Motions carried by voice vote.
- Administrative approvals and consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda (prior minutes) and adopted revised bylaws and the 2025 meeting calendar (monthly on the fourth Tuesday except December). The board approved transfers and additional appropriations for maintenance capital projects and four pass-through appropriations (jail medical reimbursements, VDEM dispatch training grant, sheriff reimbursements, and a fire/EMS donation), as summarized by finance staff.
- Accounts payable: The board ratified the monthly accounts payable run and an additional AP run associated with holiday scheduling. Staff reported total AP of $2,000,378,959.83 for the month and noted notable disbursements including IT cyber-security subscriptions ($73,000), purchase of five police vehicles ($250,000), engine motor repair ($50,000), third-quarter health department contribution ($100,000), and Reed Mountain dispatch project costs ($50,000).
- Policy and code items: The board approved amendments to the Development Services third-party inspection policy (to align with the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code) and adopted the Botetourt County third-party inspection policy.
- Leases and facilities: The board approved a 14-month lease extension for courthouse file storage in the Clark building (correction noted in the lease term) and approved two additional suites in the Clark building for EMS and central supply for 18 months; both leases were approved by motion and voice vote.
- Budget update: Finance staff presented a budget task-force recommendation that narrowed the FY26 structural gap. Initial operating requests began at about $100.3 million; staff reported requested operating totals trimmed to about $98.0 million after internal review. Revenue estimates moved from $94.6 million to roughly $96.3 million in the latest projections. As a result, the preliminary budget gap decreased from about $5.7 million to approximately $1.8 million. Staff said the schools placeholder contribution remains unchanged at this stage and that capital priorities include public safety and parks and recreation.
Why it matters: The reorganization and appointment votes set board leadership and committee representation for 2025. The budget update shows progress toward balancing next year’s budget but more work remains; the board will review staff and administrator recommendations over the coming weeks.
Votes at a glance (selected items)
- Elect Amy White, Chair, 2025 — outcome: approved (voice/roll-call). - Elect Dr. Scott Horn, Vice Chair, 2025 — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Adopt revised bylaws — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Adopt 2025 meeting schedule — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve transfers and additional appropriations (4 pass-through items) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Ratify accounts payable and additional AP run — outcome: approved (voice vote). Reported AP total: $2,000,378,959.83. - Approve Development Services third-party inspection policy revisions — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve courthouse file storage lease amendment (14 months) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve EMS/central supply leases (two suites, 18 months) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve Omni Institute contract for opioid settlement strategic plan — outcome: approved (voice vote).
Speakers and staff who presented routine items included John LaRue (county administrator), Miss Davis (finance), Nicole Pendleton (Development Services), Matt Enkel (emergency communications) and county staff for appointments and legal items.
Ending: The board moved through annual housekeeping and routine approvals, acknowledged a narrowed preliminary budget gap following internal review, and scheduled further budget work with the budget subcommittee and staff in the coming weeks. The board recessed to a February 10 work session on the comprehensive plan.
