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New Kent allocates $3.44M in speed-camera revenue to sheriff and public-safety needs amid resident appeals
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved resolution R-28-26 to appropriate $3,437,992 from photo-speed-enforcement receipts for sheriff patrol units, equipment and related public-safety items; residents urged some funds be used for schools, tax relief or local infrastructure.
The New Kent County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 8 to appropriate $3,437,992 of photo speed enforcement revenues for public-safety purposes, approving resolution R-28-26 after public comment urged prioritizing safety and other community needs.
Trip Lawrence told the board earlier in the evening that the county had received photo speed enforcement receipts during FY26 and had not yet appropriated them; he described options to use the funds for sheriff capital projects, equipment renewals (Axon body cameras and Tasers), CAD upgrades and stipends for general district court clerks who process contested cases.
Public commenters urged different allocations. Daniel Radford suggested splitting money among spending, investing and saving and proposed some funding for school capital. Chris Rizzo urged the board to prioritize sheriff staffing given rising calls for service, noting New Kent's sheriffoffice is below national staffing averages for similarly sized counties. Holly Barry, representing Wood Haven Property Owners Association, asked the board to consider using funds to support a $750,000 upfront contribution needed to unlock grants for a $1.5 million dam repair on private infrastructure she called a public-safety concern because of its proximity to Route 60.
After discussion about clerk staffing burdens, contested citations, and program outcomes, a majority of supervisors supported moving forward with R-28-26 to fund three additional patrol units and related equipment; the resolution complements three previously adopted positions funded from the general fund, bringing an overall total to six patrol positions supported in part by these revenues. The motion to adopt R-28-26 passed by unanimous roll call.
Separately, the board adopted ordinance O-08-26 (Va. Code Sec. 58.1-3958 cited in staff remarks) to permit the county to assess administrative/collection/attorney fees up to 20% for delinquent fees and violations, a change staff said would allow the county to pass collection costs to violators rather than taxpayers.
Board members also asked staff to return with options for the remaining photo-enforcement balances at a near-term work session and discussed whether some funds could be used to provide tax rebates or be earmarked for other public-safety projects.
