Botetourt County supervisors adopt FY27 budget after debate over $2.8 million school increase

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the county’s FY27 general budget at a called meeting after members debated whether to approve a roughly $2.8 million operating increase for Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS).

Board member Mr. Larry said he had reviewed school funding and the audit materials and was “prepared to support the overall budget proposal which includes the BCS budget component of approximately $2.8 million allocated to its operating budget.” He cited BCPS’s fifth-place ranking among Virginia school divisions in 2025 and expressed confidence in the county’s audit process.

A staff presentation reviewed audited spending and budgeted revenue figures for FY2022–FY2025 and projected FY2026–FY2027 revenue and expenditures. Presenters said, at level funding, the county’s projected revenues exceed projected expenditures by roughly $3.9 million; the presenters showed that adding the proposed $2.8 million school increase would move the variance to about $6.7 million.

Board member Mr. Snider challenged that approach, urging restraint and asking why schools had reduced their initial request to the smaller increase. He argued the board should require schools to justify increases and questioned whether rising health-care costs and other line items had been addressed. “I think a $3.9 million surplus at level funding is ample,” Snider said, and he warned that relying on one-time reserves is not a sustainable way to fund recurring changes.

Meeting participants noted the county was proposing to use a one-time withdrawal—reported in the meeting as $2.1 million—from an employee surplus health fund to help cover the increase. Presenters cautioned that the health fund is a one-time source and not a sustainable revenue stream for recurring school costs.

After discussion the chair called a roll-call vote. The transcript records individual votes including Dr. Scott Horn (yes), Mr. Michael (no) and Mr. Snider (yes); the excerpt provided does not include a clear, complete tally for all members in the published transcript extract. The motion to adopt the FY27 budget as advertised was recorded as approved in the meeting minutes provided to the board.

The board also noted that details of capital funding are handled separately from the operating budget and reminded the public that full citizen comment is available at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on June 23 at 2 p.m.

The board recessed into closed session after the vote to discuss rail-property acquisition under the applicable Virginia code section; the chair said no action was expected as a result of that closed session.