Botetourt supervisors delay FY27 appropriation pending auditor review; adopt 2026 tax rate and approve several land‑use actions

Botetourt County supervisors on Tuesday voted to delay final appropriation of the proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget until after a scheduled June 11 meeting with auditors, saying they need clearer reconciliations of school revenues and expenditures before committing additional local funds. The board did adopt the county2026 tax rate (no change from 2025) and approved several development and contract items.

In a lengthy exchange, supervisors and members of the public pressed for more detail about discrepancies between figures presented to the board and the Virginia Department of Education reports, reserve balances, and carryover construction funds. "Before approving further substantial increases in local funding, an independent review of actual expenditures, reserve balances and construction grant usage should be completed," said public commenter Pamela Colatin, reflecting the central concern voiced by many speakers.

Miss Katie Davis, presenting the budget, said the proposed combined county and school appropriation totals about $159.1 million, an approximately 8% increase over the previous year that includes an estimated 10% change for school funding and $2 million of one‑time extraordinary revenue attributed to Google. Davis emphasized that some funds are nonrecurring and that the board could use quarterly appropriations to manage timing uncertainties from the state budget.

After debate, a majority moved that the board table the vote and convene a special meeting following the auditor's June 11 briefing so supervisors could examine audited fund balances and reconcile operational versus one‑time capital spending. The motion to table passed with recorded votes; one member voiced readiness to adopt the budget immediately based on a private review with the auditor but was outvoted.

Beyond the budget, the board approved several routine and land‑use items: a rural residential rezoning for property owned by James R. and Carlen J. Fringer as recommended by the planning commission; acceptance of a public pedestrian access easement on private land outside a Popeye's to allow the business to secure its certificate of occupancy; and the abandonment and conveyance of a portion of South Center Drive to Altech Industries, accompanied by a purchase and performance agreement intended to incentivize job growth.

The board also authorized a lease of county ground space at Reed Mountain to Diamond Communications for a new communications tower, which includes an initial $25,000 payment when the first tenant signs and revenue sharing on subsequent tenants. In planning hearings, the supervisors approved a special exception allowing Brandon and Melissa Nicely to operate an outdoor special events/wedding venue (capped at 50 people, events to end by 10 p.m., with portable restrooms) on a 10‑acre agricultural parcel, subject to conditions requiring substantial conformance with the submitted site plan and compliance with the county noise ordinance.

A proposed convenience‑store and service‑station special exception in the Valley District was tabled at the applicant's request so unresolved access easements and final elevations can be addressed; the applicant plans to return at the board's next regular meeting.

The board also approved accounts payable items, including payment of roughly $875,963 to a contractor for work on the Reed Mountain fire dispatch center and a roughly $332,000 invoice for a chiller replacement at Greenfield, both transactions pursuant to previously executed contracts.

What happens next: the supervisors will meet with the county auditor on June 11 to review school fund balances, audited expenditure lines and construction carryovers. The board will then set a date (with required notice) for a special meeting to act on the appropriation and any budget adjustments the auditor meeting recommends.