Patrick County board schedules budget and hearings, sets tax rate and approves capital items

The Patrick County Board of Supervisors used its March 9 meeting to take several administrative and budgetary actions: it set the real estate tax rate at $0.73 per $100 of assessed value for FY 2026–27, scheduled public hearings on the budget and six-year plan, and approved multiple capital and grant-related items.

Budget and hearings: County staff presented a proposed FY 2026–27 budget and said the plan was roughly $21,233 under budget at the time of presentation. The board set a public hearing on the budget for April 13 and scheduled a work session for March 23 with a possible additional session April 27 and a final vote planned for May 11.

Emergency services and equipment: Emergency management coordinator Scotty Castle asked the board to move Patrick County Fire & EMS back to a non-transport model so volunteer crews could continue ALS intercepts and to release capital funds so Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department could fully stock a recently acquired heavy rescue truck. Both requests were approved.

Radio communications: The board approved reactivating the Prim tower, adding simulcast equipment to link county towers and licensing an additional ARAT channel to reduce coverage gaps. Castle said the updated plan reduces a previously estimated $1.4 million project down to about $280,000 through technology improvements and by leveraging existing towers; the board agreed to reallocate capital improvement funds accordingly.

Infrastructure and grants: Mark Vernon, erosion and stormwater administrator, outlined repairs and engineering work required to bring three high-hazard ARAT dams into compliance with state dam-safety standards. He estimated one spillway repair project at roughly $900,000 and said state grants offer a 70/30 construction match and 90/10 funding for certain engineering reports. The board approved six resolutions to support grant applications and commit local matching dollars if awarded.

Parks and facilities: The board awarded a contract (Bid B) of $19,727 to rebuild the breezeway and ticket booth at Dehart Park after county maintenance completed partial demolition; the award was conditioned on typical contract deposit and warranty arrangements.

Votes at a glance: [solar ordinance — approved; Fire & EMS non-transport — approved; set real estate tax rate at $0.73 — approved; release capital funds for rescue truck equipment — approved; approve dam grant resolutions (6) — approved; simulcast radio upgrade and Prim tower reactivation — approved; Dehart Park contract award ($19,727) — approved; schedule budget public hearing for April 13 — approved]. Individual roll-call votes are recorded where available in the transcript (e.g., Mr. Marshall cast a recorded "no" on the solar ordinance; other recorded votes were 'I'/'aye' by supervisors present).

The board then moved into closed session to consider personnel and real-estate matters as permitted by Virginia Code.