Fauquier accepts state NextGen 911 and call‑handling grants for sheriff’s communications

Fauquier County staff presented two state grant awards for the sheriff’s communications division and a corresponding budget amendment.

Staff said the county was awarded $150,000 from the Virginia PSAP NextGen grant program for education, training and equipment for communications staff; there is no local match. Separately, staff said the county received an additional $200,000 from a Virginia PSAP call‑handling equipment grant for replacement call‑handling equipment used by the sheriff’s communications division. Staff reported total equipment cost of about $320,000 for the call‑handling system and advised the board that a budget amendment would support the balance of funds.

County administration told the board a proposed amendment to the FY 2026 adopted budget would transfer funds from the county’s capital reserve in support of the call‑handling equipment. The staff presenter said the amendment would fund the county’s share but the exact transfer amount cited in the meeting transcript was not clearly stated in dollar terms.

Why it matters: The grants supply technology and training for emergency communications and appear to require no local match, accelerating replacement of aging call‑handling equipment and providing training resources for communications staff.

Next steps: The board was asked to accept and appropriate the grant funds and to approve the proposed budget amendment. Staff said they would hold the appropriation until award documentation was complete and would bring the budget amendment forward for formal action.

Ending: The board signaled no objections; staff will pursue appropriation and bring a budget amendment for formal approval at the appropriate time.