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Finance Committee previews FY2027 budget, flags assessment estimate, study funds and department changes
Summary
Interim Finance Director John Montoro told the Finance Committee that the FY2027 draft budget is largely complete; staff highlighted a ~7% reassessment estimate, placeholders for study funds ($40,000) and assessment professional services ($100,000), proposed increases for County Attorney services ($300,000), and recommended a $300,000 ATL capital fund for volunteer fire departments.
The Halifax County Finance Committee on April 2 reviewed staff recommendations for the FY2027 budget and identified several placeholders and policy issues that will be finalized when revenue projections are completed.
Interim Finance Director John Montoro said the General Fund, E911 and Grant Fund budgets are reasonably complete and that staff will finish the revenue estimate before the Board meets Monday. Montoro cited an estimate from Tim Spainhour that property reassessments appear close to a 7% increase; the committee noted that rate equalization would be required when assessments are updated.
County Administrator Ron Brade and Montoro walked the committee through several notable budget items and placeholders: a $40,000 "Professional Services" placeholder intended to fund periodic studies (salary study, property audit, building health assessments); a proposed $300,000 allocation for County Attorney services (benchmarked to similar allocations in nearby counties); an anticipated $75,000 amount for auditing services expected to be put out to bid; and a $100,000 placeholder for Assessment Professional Services should the County bring in an outside assessment firm for a reassessment cycle.
The committee discussed personnel and structural changes: adding positions under Central Accounting (Finance Director, Procurement Officer, HR Manager) to address competency gaps and exploring a Shared Services Model with towns and the school system; moving Mr. Detrick Easley’s salary from Building Inspections to Planning and Zoning; and possible reallocation of Animal Control enforcement to the Sheriff pending approval of an MOU.
Public safety and volunteer services drew substantive discussion. Vice Chair R. Smart proposed expanding an ATL capital fund to $300,000 to provide $25,000 annually to each of twelve volunteer fire departments to help with vehicle payments; the committee discussed requiring regular reporting from departments as a condition of funding. Staff and supervisors also reviewed North Halifax EMS overtime and staffing levels and examined a $70,000–$90,000 miscellaneous ambulance expense that may include a reporting software purchase and costs tied to a newly county-managed drug-box program.
Capital and grant projects discussed included an awarded IFB and roughly $4 million in combined EDA/DHCD funding for water and sewer work at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) administered through the Southside Planning District Commission, and CDBG Riverdale housing expenses. The committee also discussed debt-service reductions expected this fiscal year and one-time savings that the Board has in prior years contemplated sharing with schools for buses and other needs.
Several community contributions were adjusted or earmarked: Tri-County Community Action Agency funding was set at $52,000 (down from a $75,000 request); the committee agreed to add a $10,000 line for the high school robotics program (Cometbots); and staff flagged Recovering Hands as a candidate for Opioid Settlement Funds. The YMCA requested an increase (the committee discussed moving from $15,000 to $20,000). Staff will update revenue estimates and return with a revised recommended budget.
No budget line was finally adopted at the meeting; the committee recessed its recommendations for Board action pending finalized revenue figures.
