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Leesburg budget proposal includes modest increases for boards and commissions; tree commission funding prompts debate
Summary
The proposed FY 2026 budget includes a net increase for boards and commissions, a $100,000 increase for public arts piano maintenance and $20,850 in unfunded commission requests; councilmembers debated whether the tree commission's $13,200 request should come from the tree bank reserve or general fund.
Town staff summarized proposed FY 2026 budget changes for Leesburg's 14 boards and commissions and invited council questions about specific requests.
Key items: The proposal includes a net $100,000 increase for the Commission of Public Arts to cover piano maintenance, cost-of-living adjustments tied to employee COLAs for the planning commission and BAR (Board of Architectural Review), and a reclassification of $36,000 in traffic-management costs into the RTC budget for transparency. Staff noted $20,850 in remaining unfunded commission requests.
Tree commission debate: Councilmembers discussed whether to fund a $13,200 request from the tree commission via the town's tree bank reserve or general fund. One councilmember said the tree commission specifically requested funds for a tree-giveaway program and not for administrative expenses; a different councilmember expressed concern about using tree bank funds (provided by residents to support planting) for event or administrative costs and said they would favor general fund support instead.
Process change proposed: To reduce repetitive email approvals during the fiscal year, staff proposed that council approve board/commission spending as part of the budget by accepting detailed line-item proposals in the budget binders. Staff said deviations from the plan would still require approval through Mr. Dentler (town manager).
Other clarifications: Staff explained that many boards historically had no non-personnel budgets, which is why some entries show only compensation. The RTC (residential traffic committee) item reflects previously department-held traffic-calming funds now moved into the RTC budget for visibility; staff provided a breakdown of the $36,000 (about $21,000 for driver-feedback signs, $3,000 for speed studies and $12,000 for traffic-calming measures).
Ending: Council allowed the budget presentation to proceed and asked staff to clarify funding sources for commission requests as part of the FY 2026 budget work.
