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Rockbridge County hears nonprofit funding requests as board sets FY2027 schedule
Summary
At a Feb. 2 special budget meeting, local nonprofits and public agencies presented program reports and requests — including library operating needs of $876,593, a $20,000 local-match request for transit vehicle replacements, and smaller operating asks ranging $5,000–$12,000 — as the board set a Feb. 23 draft budget presentation date.
LEXINGTON, Va. — Representatives from local nonprofits, the library system and cultural organizations presented funding requests and program updates Tuesday as the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors opened a special budget hearing ahead of the FY2027 cycle.
The board’s chair (name not stated in the transcript) told presenters the requests would be treated as estimates for the draft budget and said the board expects to adopt a budget on May 4. The board also set an initial draft presentation for Monday, Feb. 23, at 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Rainoni, speaking for Mountain Gateway Community College, asked the board to continue local funding at current levels. He highlighted a new Buena Vista facility and said the college served roughly 1,900 students overall, with about 22% from Rockbridge County and a 67% increase in enrollment for the most recent semester after adding programs such as welding, CDL and building trades.
Patty Cook, director of development for Rockbridge Area Health Center, described the health center’s role as a safety-net provider. She said the center served about 9,300 individuals in 2025 (including roughly 4,725 Rockbridge County residents) and provided $1,400,000 in charitable care last year. Cook outlined school-based health centers at Maury River Middle School and Rockbridge County High School, and described plans to deploy TytoCare telehealth technology to expand access in rural areas.
Michelle Watkins asked for two county contributions. Watkins said Valley Area Stretcher Transport provided 412 non-emergent stretcher transports in 2025 (about 90% billed to Medicaid) and requested $10,000 to help cover transport costs for residents who cannot afford trips to medical appointments, including frequent runs to Roanoke. As founder of Rockbridge Connect & Nourish, Watkins also described more than 6,000 meals served since March 2023 and requested $10,000 to support transportation and expansion to reach an additional 500 diners in 2026.
Spencer McElroy, executive director of Limekiln Theater, reported strong event attendance (about 9,500 concert attendees plus 6,000 for other events) and said roughly 60% of ticket buyers come from outside Rockbridge County, producing tourism benefit. McElroy said 100% of county support is restricted to capital improvements and requested county help toward a new sound system estimated at $150,000; Limekiln has funds for roughly half and is seeking grants and donations for the remainder.
John Murphy, treasurer of The Community Table, requested $5,000 to support operations of the community meal program, which serves about 60–70 people per meal and provided roughly 9,300 meals last year through partnerships with campus and local organizations.
Lindsay Perez of the Rockbridge Area Relief Association requested $12,000 to sustain programming that includes mobile food pantry expansion, pet food pantries, and increased rent and utility assistance; Perez said the organization saw a 20% increase in assistance cases and is organizing a Rockbridge Homeless Connection Coalition with a stakeholder meeting on Feb. 12.
Harper Donahoe, chair of the Rockbridge Regional Library System Board of Trustees, asked the county for an operating allocation of $876,593 for FY2027 to cover a 3% staff raise, creation of an assistant director position and an anticipated 10% increase in health insurance costs; he described library services such as passport acceptance, notary services, outreach and the bookmobile.
Other presenters included Cheryl Wagner of Rockbridge Regional Tourism, who reviewed recent marketing, visitor-origin data and announced a Rockbridge Outdoors Fest on June 13 at Glenmore Park; Stephanie Richard, new executive director of RATS, who requested $20,000 as a 10% local match for two replacement transit vehicles and described 12,881 rides provided in 2025 and high-mileage concerns on aging vehicles; Ben Eland of Boxerwood, who described environmental education work serving local schools and leveraging roughly $200,000 in external grants last year; and Melissa Sayer of Valley Program for Aging Services, who outlined Meals on Wheels, free medical transportation and emergency utility assistance programs.
Board members asked no substantive questions during the presentations and closed the formal portion of the meeting after the scheduled presenters finished. The chair reiterated the draft budget timeline and the board moved and seconded to adjourn; the roll call recorded ayes from Miss Ayers, Mister Hart, Mister Dave and the chair.
The board will continue work over the next three months before the expected May 4 adoption. Several presenters asked supervisors to consider continuing or increasing modest local support to sustain services and to preserve leverage for outside grants and federal or state funding opportunities.
