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Council adopts $12 million in grants and approves FY26 carryforward requests
Summary
Petersburg council approved an amendment adding nearly $12 million in grants to the FY2026 grants fund and approved a carryforward of roughly $1 million in unspent FY2025 project funds to FY2026.
The Petersburg City Council approved two budget items Tuesday that add state and federal grant dollars to the city—s FY2026 budget and carry forward unspent project funds from FY2025.
Council approved an amendment to the FY2026 grants fund listing nearly $12 million in grants the city said require no local match, and then approved a separate request to carry forward a little over $1 million of previously appropriated but unspent funds into the new fiscal year.
Why it matters: The grants provide funding for public safety, emergency medical services, victim/witness services, community corrections, and several flood mitigation and harbor/dredging planning efforts. Carryforward action lets departments finish projects started in FY2025 without reappropriating new funds.
Grants and purposes cited by staff
- NG9-1-1 equipment grant (Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board): $150,000 for police department communications. - HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) grant (Virginia State Police): $8,878 for the sheriff—s office. - Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) through VDH/VDEM: $180,000 toward ambulance purchase for Fire Rescue. - Industrial Revitalization Fund: funds to demolish the Travel Inn property (amount shown in packet). - Victim Witness and Community Corrections grants (DCJS): funding to operate those city departments ($300,000 noted for victim witness; additional amounts for community corrections listed in packet). - Community Flood Preparedness Fund (DCR CFPF), rounds 4 and 5: several projects totaling several million (including $2.2 million for floodplain properties and $2,000,000 for harbor-related work and a $250,000 dredging study; a $650,000 structural inventory item was also listed).
Carryforward request
Budget manager Gary Kozy explained the carryforward covers projects and purchases started but not completed because of delivery delays, supply chain issues and scheduling. He said most carryforward items are expected to be spent during FY2026, including equipment and vehicles for fire and police, zoning ordinance update work, and other departmental purchases.
Council action
Vice Mayor Hill moved the grants amendment; Councilmember Jones seconded after discussion clarifying that the grants are tied to specific projects and do not become a general pool of discretionary funds. The public hearing produced no speakers; the council voted to adopt the grants amendment. Later, council moved and approved the FY2026 carryforward request after a public comment from resident Tina Noor who asked whether the funds would be spent in the coming year; staff responded they expected to expend almost all carryforward dollars during FY2026.
Speakers listed in the meeting record
- Gary Kozy, Budget Manager (presented grants and carryforward items) - Tina Noor, resident (public comment during carryforward hearing)
Authorities
- None cited beyond standard budget appropriation procedures; grants originate from multiple state agencies (VDH, VDEM, DCJS, DCR, etc.).
Actions (budget votes)
- Motion: Amend FY2026 Grants Fund to appropriate nearly $12 million in grant awards (mover: Vice Mayor Hill; second: Councilmember Jones). Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve FY2026 carryforward of unspent FY2025 funds (mover: Vice Mayor Hill; second: Councilmember Westbrook). Outcome: approved.
Clarifying details
- Kozy said all listed grants are fully funded and require no city match. - CFPF funds are from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and target floodplain mitigation, Bank Street evaluation and harbor dredging study work. - RSAF amount ($180,000) is targeted to ambulance procurement for Fire Rescue.
Community relevance
- Grants support public safety (police, fire/EMS), victim services, community corrections and flood mitigation — areas with direct impact on Petersburg residents.
Ending
With the appropriations approved, departments may obligate and spend the listed grant funds in FY2026; staff said they will work with departments to begin projects and purchases now that the budget amendment is in place.
