Northumberland supervisors approve opioid settlement participation, authorize school nutrition audit and small school appropriation

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors on April 23 voted unanimously to join a proposed combined settlement of opioid-related claims against associated pharmacies and authorized county staff to execute documents to participate.

At the same meeting the board authorized Finance Director Anne Curran to conduct an audit of School Nutrition funds after Curran said carryover balances that once accumulated are now being spent along with new federal funds. The board also approved a $2,916 transfer and supplemental appropriation to pay an invoice from Capital City Services related to a school well project, and agreed to a procedural change allowing the Board of Supervisors to act on some school transfers and supplemental appropriations before the School Board, provided the School Board is notified.

The board opened a public hearing on the Northumberland County School Board FY27 budget but received no public comments. County Administrator E. Luttrell Tadlock said the total school budget request is $21,621,405 and that state law requires the board to wait seven days after the hearing before taking final action. Finance Facilitator Karen Pica told the board the school request represents a $244,095 decrease in local funding compared with the prior year and includes a proposed 2% salary increase and a 4.5% increase in health-insurance funding. Pica flagged substantial VRS (Virginia Retirement System) cost increases — she cited a VRS ‘‘high option’’ cost of $60,100 and other mandated VRS changes of about $243,000 — and recommended a position-audit to reconcile payroll headcount with positions.

Pica presented three budget approaches: fully fund departmental requests including the proposed 2% salary and 4.5% health-insurance increases; adopt cuts based on prior-year expenditures; or change how charitable contributions and grants are administered by establishing a dedicated fund, using the Economic Development Commission to evaluate applications and recommend awards. She also recommended replenishing reserves by placing 2% of the budget into reserves and creating a separate contingency fund equal to 2% of expenditures.

On the nutrition audit, Curran said the school nutrition program previously ended fiscal years with a carryover but is now drawing down those balances; when Vice Chairman Chip Williams asked how much county tax money currently supports the nutrition program, Pica said at present there are no county tax dollars applied but warned that could change if trends continue. The motion to authorize the audit passed 5-0 (moved by Supervisor Keith Harris; seconded by Supervisor Chip Williams).

The opioid-resolution motion likewise passed 5-0 (moved by Supervisor Keith Harris; seconded by Supervisor James Long). The supplemental appropriation to pay Capital City Services $2,916 for the school well was approved 5-0 (moved by Supervisor Chip Williams; seconded by Supervisor James Long). The board also voted 5-0 to allow the Board of Supervisors to hear and take action on school division transfers and supplemental appropriations prior to School Board action while requiring the School Board be notified in advance (motion moved by Supervisor Keith Harris; seconded by Supervisor Al Fisher).

Chairman James W. Brann said the board plans a follow-up meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 30 to focus on NES playground funding, school funding for the year, and potential uses for county property known as the poor house tract. The board recessed into a closed session to discuss personnel matters under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) and later certified that the closed meeting complied with the law. The meeting adjourned following a brief discussion about the county's contribution to Little League.

Votes at a glance: • School Nutrition audit — motion authorized; mover Keith Harris; second Chip Williams; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 029–036). • Opioid settlement participation resolution — mover Keith Harris; second James Long; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 037–042). • Transfer/Supplemental appropriation for school well, $2,916 to Capital City Services — mover Chip Williams; second James Long; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 043–046). • Allow Board to act on school transfers/supplementals prior to School Board (with notification) — mover Keith Harris; second Al Fisher; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 047–050).

Next steps: The board must wait the statutorily required period following the hearing before taking final action on the FY27 school budget and will meet April 30 for follow-up budget discussions and planning.