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County finance presents preliminary FY‑26 budget outlook showing operating surplus to apply to capital requests
Summary
Louisa County staff presented preliminary FY‑26 revenue and expenditure estimates showing projected operational revenues of about $183.97 million, operational expenses of about $174.00 million, and an operational surplus near $9.3 million to be applied toward capital requests; staff warned figures are preliminary pending state budget actions.
Wanda Colvin, presenting on the county’s operation and maintenance budget, told the board the county is at the beginning of the FY‑26 budget process and that revenue and expenditure estimates are preliminary.
Colvin reported the packet’s working totals: estimated total revenues of about $183,967,000, operational expenses around $174,000,689, and an operational surplus of roughly $9,300,000 available to apply toward capital requests. She said the county’s CIP project request for the coming year is lower than previously anticipated ($10.9 million less) because some large items were pushed out for additional study.
Colvin listed revenue drivers the county expects to affect FY‑26: an estimated 8% increase in real‑estate tax values (about $5 million), roughly $1 million more in public‑service corporation taxes related to broadband and electrical infrastructure, $1.1 million in increased building and zoning permits, and higher interest earnings. She also said revenue estimates remain contingent on the state budget; staff expected clearer numbers when the General Assembly finalizes its budget.
On the expenditure side, Colvin said operational requests increased 11.86% year over year — roughly $18.5 million — driven largely by new debt issuance payments (about $6.9 million of that increase). She listed placeholder assumptions, including a 10% placeholder for health‑insurance changes and a 4% placeholder for other increases while final figures are developed.
Colvin also outlined staffing requests across departments tied to growth: additional clerk’s office support, three Fire/EMS medic positions, a project manager and maintenance technicians for general services, additional landfill and parks maintenance staff, child‑care site coordinators, and more community‑development inspectors. She emphasized that figures are preliminary and the finance committee and staff will bring more refined proposals back to the board during the budget process.
Supervisors asked clarifying questions and the finance committee said the board will hold a work session to begin reviewing outside‑agency requests and capital items.
