Board approves $22.45 million in budget amendments; authorizes $6.28 million in vendor payments for Reed Mountain and radio project
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Summary
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors approved $22,454,922 in budget amendments and authorized large vendor disbursements, including $882,002.98 to MB Contractors and $5,398,584.30 to Motorola tied to the Reed Mountain Fire & Dispatch Center and the public‑safety radio project. Staff will execute grant agreements following county‑attorney review.
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted to approve $22,454,922 in amendments to the county's FY2025‑26 budget, covering a suite of appropriations including a roughly $4.8 million third‑quarter appropriation for schools and multimillion‑dollar appropriations to capital projects and grant awards.
Miss Davis, the county staff member managing the financial presentation, told the board the package includes roughly $8.34 million from fund balance for the Reed Mountain Fire and Dispatch Center and about $6.5 million for the county's public‑safety radio project, both of which staff expect to partially reimburse through forthcoming financing. "This is to cover those appropriations and needs until we can do that based on financing decisions," she said.
Why it matters: the amendments exceed the 1% threshold that triggers a required public hearing. The package bundles federal, state and local grants, reimbursements and fund‑balance allocations and clears adjustments needed to proceed with ongoing capital work.
What the board approved: among the items listed by staff were a third‑quarter school appropriation (approximately $4.8 million), roughly $2.4 million in EDA grants spread across departments and capital projects, a $199,008.80 Virginia Department of Energy grant, a $60,000 Department of Conservation and Recreation grant, a $24,026 Library of Virginia grant for clerk records imaging, and other smaller appropriations and reimbursements. Staff also presented appropriations of $8,338,513 from unassigned fund balance to Reed Mountain and $6,500,454 for the public‑safety radio project; those amounts are expected to be partially reimbursed when bonds are issued.
Large vendor payments: separately, under the accounts‑payable policy requiring board approval for invoices exceeding $250,000, staff asked the board to release two payments totaling $6,280,882.60: $882,002.98 to MB Contractors (application 6 for Reed Mountain work) and $5,398,584.30 to Motorola (balance of subscriber radios and part of change order #4). Miss Davis said the Motorola payment covers radio hardware and a partial change order; the MB Contractors payment is for completed work on the Reed Mountain project. The board approved releasing the funds for processing.
Dissent and follow‑up: several board members asked detailed questions about whether particular items would be reimbursed, whether line‑items could be pulled for subcommittee review, and the expected financing timetable. One supervisor registered opposition to part of the motion and at least one abstention was recorded during the voice votes; the board carried the motions and authorized staff to execute related grant agreements upon county‑attorney review.
Next steps: staff will finalize the documents, complete any outstanding invoice confirmations, and proceed with the financing and grant‑execution steps outlined during the meeting. The Reed Mountain and radio projects will continue construction and equipment procurement per the county's schedules.
