Finance committee approves firefighter gear grant, recommends kinship navigator grant, continues drug-testing funding; reviews revenue update

The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee on Aug. 26 approved or recommended several grant actions and received updates on contingency reserves and revenue collections.

Chief Wormser presented a grant application to the committee: "Before you today, is a grant application, to be finalized in the amount of $96,281 to purchase 14 sets of turnout gear for our firefighters. The this particular grant is a nonmatching grant," he said. The committee moved approval; a voice vote recorded "aye" and no opposing votes were noted in the transcript.

April Watson presented a Virginia Department of Social Services kinship navigator grant awarded to the city. "We were awarded this grant by the Virginia Department of Social Services in the amount of $94,909," Watson said. She said the funding will establish a kinship navigator program, hire a dedicated staff member to case manage and connect kinship caregivers to resources, and provide outreach materials. Watson told the committee the award came with a quick turnaround and the grant is for one year; she said the position would be identified as grant-funded. The committee moved to recommend the grant to the full city council; a voice vote recorded "aye."

Taylor Jones spoke for the Lynchburg Circuit Court's adult recovery court about continuing a grant from the Supreme Court of Virginia for statewide universal drug testing. "If awarded these funds would pay for lab drug testing with our drug testing partner Aber Health as well as other drug testing supplies," Jones said. Jones said there is no cash match; one committee member clarified the program expects an in-kind 25% match consisting of staff time for probation officers and program staff. The committee moved and approved continuation of the grant by voice vote.

Donna Witt reviewed the general fund contingency and monthly revenue collections. She said the fiscal-year 2026 reserve for contingency is $1,200,000, including $50,000 of the city manager's discretionary funding. On revenues, Witt said June was a stronger month: "Finally got our June numbers, and, happy to report that June was a better month. So, our sales tax, we came in about a 175,000 above what we projected, ending the year with about $605,000 above budget," she said. Witt also reported the city ended the year about $822,000 below projections on meals tax and about $430,000 below on lodging tax, while consumer utility tax and amusement tax finished nearer to projections.

Why it matters: The turnout gear grant funds essential protective equipment for firefighters. The kinship navigator grant provides a one-year position and services for relatives and family members caring for children. The drug-testing grant supports recovery court operations that staff and council described as part of rehabilitation efforts. Revenue updates highlight pressures in meals and lodging taxes that affect the city's general fund outlook.

What happens next: The turnout gear and drug-testing grants were approved by the committee to proceed; the kinship navigator award was recommended to the full city council for adoption. Staff will proceed with grant execution and hiring as allowed by each grant's terms.