Manassas Park governing body adopts FY26 A2 budget amendment after staff presentation on $6.5M land-sale revenue

The Manassas Park Governing Body voted June 23 to approve a resolution adopting the FY26 A2 budget amendment after a staff presentation on unanticipated revenue and several expenditure adjustments.

Staff told the governing body the city received roughly $6.5 million in unanticipated revenue from the sale of the Kurandlay property by a Christian school, a windfall that pushed the amendment above the 1% threshold requiring the public hearing. "The unanticipated contributions due to the land sales increased our revenue by six and a half million," a staff member said, and reported the general fund will show about a $5.255 million surplus reflected in unassigned fund balance.

Why it matters: the amendment updates appropriations to reflect the one-time land-sale proceeds and several expenditures that exceeded original plans. The staff presentation listed items over $5,000 and noted smaller but notable adjustments, including modest enterprise fund changes tied to a prior equipment purchase and a $100 increase in NVRC dues.

Council members asked staff to clarify several lines. On healthcare costs, a council member asked whether higher expenses reflected plan changes or new hires; staff replied that open-enrollment changes and new employees who use benefits contributed to the increase and pointed to "Grace, the events coordinator" as an example of staffing turnover affecting benefit use. On lease proceeds from Digital Drive, a council member asked where approximately $520,000 in revenue would be placed; staff said the receipts will go into unassigned fund balance and that lease income before all leases expire exceeds renovation needs for the future public works building.

The governing body also discussed a roughly $60,000 increase in jail costs. Staff attributed the rise to a higher average daily incarceration rate and specifically to housing a murder suspect, which raised per‑day expenses. A council member suggested making it a legislative priority to ask the state to assume costs for violent-felony incarcerations; other members signaled support for pursuing that policy idea.

Other adjustments highlighted in the presentation included a $40,000 vehicle purchase for an additional building inspector — to replace a prior practice of staff using shared or personal vehicles — and increased costs for the building automation system to better control HVAC (and to a lesser extent, the fire station). Staff said the automation work is an ongoing effort that exceeded planned amounts rather than a brand-new project. The splash-pad project (referred to in discussion as the "splashdown") remained in the CIP for FY27, and staff said contract packages are being prepared so work can begin after the busy season.

With no members of the public present, the chair closed the hearing. The governing body then approved the staff-recommended resolution "incorporating the FY26A2 budget amendment appropriation adjustments as presented" (motion and second were recorded; the transcript records a voice vote and states "motion carries"). The record does not specify individual vote tallies.

The meeting adjourned following the vote.