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Roanoke budget study zeroes in on Fire Station 2, Belmont library expansion and PLATO cuts
Summary
City staff presented a FY2026–27 budget recommending a $13.75 million net increase and proposed one‑time reallocation candidates including Fire Station No. 2 (~$12M), a Belmont Library expansion (~$7.3M), Jefferson Center repairs, and options to scale the PLATO program and activity‑bus service.
City staff and council members on May 4 spent the bulk of a public budget study examining where to direct roughly $21.56 million of available one‑time funding and how to manage constrained recurring revenues.
"The total budget increase is still 421,500,000 and that is a $13,750,000 increase," said budget lead Mister Kasecki as he reviewed the recommended FY2026–27 package, pointing to revenue adjustments that include $4 million for social‑services programs and a conservative sales‑tax projection.
Staff presented a list of capital projects under consideration for one‑time funding reallocation: Fire Station No. 2 (estimated about $12 million; staff noted the land donation includes a restriction that it be used as a fire station), a Belmont Library expansion (approximately $7.3 million), Jefferson Center roof and fire suppression work (about $4.9 million) and a municipal server/technology room ($1.5 million). Staff said the city is managing rising utility and fuel costs while carrying vacancy savings and a managed‑hiring approach into the next fiscal year.
On education programming, Roanoke City Public Schools staff and council members discussed options to restructure the PLATO summer program and activity‑bus service. Kasecki summarized options presented by the school board: a full PLATO program at two sites would cost roughly $1.1 million; a phased, one‑site model with targeted transportation would yield savings in the mid‑$300,000s; limiting activity buses to spring athletics instead of year‑round could save about $232,800 versus a full elimination savings near $150,000.
Council members expressed differing priorities. Council member Nash said the Fire Station 2 project should be a top capital priority given operational concerns and a donated parcel; other members asked staff to document whether the current station’s condition creates measurable response‑time risks before committing funds. Several members urged caution about drawing down fund balance and recommended holding at least $5 million as a contingency.
Staff also reviewed funding options for external agencies and an ambassador program. The proposed external‑agencies model (option 1) would fund about 10 organizations near their requested amounts; an alternative would spread limited funds more widely (funding about 19 agencies at roughly half of requested amounts). The ambassador program is currently supported in part by ARPA funds; staff said any extension of ARPA funding would require commitments and expenditure scheduling before the ARPA deadlines.
Kasecki and City Manager Vanessa Turner said staff would return with additional detail (parcel restrictions, updated cost estimates, phasing options and the CDS submission list) ahead of the council’s budget adoption scheduled for next week.
Council recessed its public work to meet in closed session later in the day and planned to reconvene for formal adoption actions as required.
