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Board advertises FY27 budget; adds Google‑related EDA funds for one‑time capital projects amid heated school funding debate
Summary
After weeks of subcommittee work the Board moved to advertise the proposed FY27 budget. The package keeps the county contribution to schools at last year's level while adding about $9.8 million in non‑recurring EDA funds (from the recent Google land sale) for capital projects; supervisors and residents sharply debated supplemental school requests and budget tradeoffs.
The Board of Supervisors approved advertising the recommended FY27 budget after a lengthy update from county finance staff and extensive public comment.
County staff said the budget subcommittee reduced an opening gap of roughly $12.7 million through expenditure adjustments and revenue updates, arriving at a structurally balanced recommended budget. The county contribution to school operations remained level compared with FY26 — a point that drew agreement from some supervisors and criticism from many speakers during the public comment period.
Finance staff also presented $9.8 million in non‑recurring funds from the county's Economic Development Authority (EDA), derived from proceeds of the recent land purchase by a commercial campus. Those EDA funds were proposed for one‑time capital projects in FY27, including a parks/community center placeholder (~$3.6M), $3.5M toward Buchanan Library renovation, heart monitor equipment for Fire/EMS, and several other capital items. Staff emphasized those EDA dollars are non‑recurring and recommended they be segregated from the county's base operating revenues.
Board members debated supplemental funding requests from the school division. One supervisor presented a compromise increase of $2,812,616 (above level funding) that he said could be sourced from existing healthcare fund reserves and year‑end savings; the proposal prompted extended debate among supervisors and public attendees about transparency, prior school surpluses, and whether the school division had performed a comparable budget review.
Speakers on both sides pressed the board. Jerry Riley, a former educator, said, "Additional instructional assistants are not optional. They are legally required through student IEPs," while some residents argued the schools ended FY26 with a surplus and that county departments had already taken budget cuts. Student and community speakers stressed learning environments and facility needs; other residents urged fiscal restraint given a 1–2% projected revenue decline in local receipts.
The board voted to advertise the budget and schedule the advertised public hearing on May 13. The budget adoption and tax‑rate decision remain scheduled for later action. Officials said the advertised package can be reduced (but not increased) during the public hearings and that additional state budget outcomes could force later amendments.
Next steps: the budget will be the subject of the May 13 public hearing; board members and staff indicated they expect continued conversation about school capital needs and possible reallocation of non‑recurring EDA funds if priorities change.
Key numbers and clarifications (from presentations and speakers): county operating base ~ $95.2M (excluding EDA funds), proposed total recommended budget including EDA funds ~ $105M, EDA (Google‑derived) non‑recurring funds ~ $9.8M, county contribution to schools held level (no increase in operating contribution), proposed supplemental $2,812,616 compromise for school needs discussed by supervisors.
