Amelia County reviews proposed FY2026 budget; schedules workshop, delays final advertising

County Administrator Mundy presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Amelia County Board of Supervisors and asked the board to direct staff to advertise the tax rates, fees and proposed water and sewer rates required by the Code of Virginia before holding a public hearing.

The proposed budget, as presented, would not raise county tax rates but would raise sanitary-district water and sewer rates to cover increased variable operating costs. The presentation included a $60.7 million total-expenditures estimate, a recommended 3% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees, a 6% increase in health‑insurance premiums split between employees and the county, restoration of one deputy‑sheriff position, and funding to transition EMS service under a staff‑driven “option 3” that would place more county fire and EMS employees on the road.

Why it matters: the board must publish a legal notice under the Code of Virginia and hold a public hearing at least seven days before final adoption. Advertising starts a legal clock: once the rates and fees are advertised they may be lowered but not raised before final adoption.

Mundy told the board the package of documents before supervisors — a three‑page legal notice, department summaries and slides — will be posted online and made available in the county administrator’s office. He said the budget is balanced on the revenue and expenditure assumptions staff used and highlighted a number of items from the presentation, including:

- Revenue and reserves: The county’s undesignated fund balance grew by about $1.6 million in the prior year, and staff estimated the county is roughly 22.2% toward a 30% fund‑balance target. Staff emphasized avoiding drawing on reserves to fund ongoing operations.

- Sanitary district rates: Staff said a typical household using about…