Bland County supervisors approve budget transfers, funding plan and fee waivers

Chair Randy Johnson convened the Bland County Board of Supervisors at 5:02 p.m. on July 22, 2025, and the board moved unanimously through a slate of routine financial and administrative measures.

The board approved FY25 year-end budget transfers and supplements totaling $148,600 to cover an underbudgeted reassessment ($43,600) and overspending in Selective Enforcement ($105,000). The motion to adopt the transfers was made by Supervisor Patrick Groseclose and seconded by Supervisor Keith Costello; the measure passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

The supervisors also adopted the FY26 Local Improvement Funding Plan, allocating 40% of the plan’s funds to education and 60% to public safety. Supervisor Stephen Kelley moved approval, and Supervisor Patrick Groseclose seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

The consent agenda — approved on a unanimous vote after a motion by Supervisor Stephen Kelley and seconded by Supervisor Patrick Groseclose — included approval of minutes, payroll disbursements (June 30 payroll: $148,401.10; July 16 payroll: $198,327.26), vendor payments for May ($30,124.02), June ($263,053.56) and July ($530,794.00), departmental reports, appropriation of the May 2025 Social Services local allotment of $12,532.97, and release of the Bland County School Board’s August requisition for $1,141,146.10.

On administrative items, the board waived $250.68 in building permit fees for the Bland County School Board (permit #102-2025) after a motion by Supervisor Patrick Groseclose, and approved an entertainment permit for Mountain Top Holiness Church with fees waived on a motion by Supervisor Keith Costello.

The board approved an FY26 budget appropriation of $2,556 in additional revenue from the United Way of Southwest Virginia and directed those funds to the Bland Ministry Center. Supervisor Keith Costello made the motion; Supervisor Patrick Groseclose seconded and the vote was unanimous.

Supervisors authorized the County Administrator to sign an opioid abatement participation form, approved advertising a public hearing on an ordinance to authorize a local employee bonus, and approved applications to the Wythe Bland Foundation for grant funding. All motions were passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance • Agenda amended to add Wythe Bland Foundation application — Moved: Keith Costello; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Consent agenda (minutes, payroll, bills, reports, appropriations) — Moved: Stephen Kelley; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Waive Bland County School Board building permit fees (#102-2025, $250.68) — Moved: Patrick Groseclose; Second: Keith Costello; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Entertainment permit, Mountain Top Holiness Church (fees waived) — Moved: Keith Costello; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • FY26 Local Improvement Funding Plan (40% Education / 60% Public Safety) — Moved: Stephen Kelley; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • FY25 year-end transfers and supplements ($148,600 total; $43,600 reassessment; $105,000 selective enforcement) — Moved: Patrick Groseclose; Second: Keith Costello; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • FY26 appropriation — United Way of Southwest Virginia ($2,556 to Bland Ministry Center) — Moved: Keith Costello; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Authorize opioid abatement participation form signature — Moved: Stephen Kelley; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Advertise public hearing for local employee bonus ordinance — Moved: Patrick Groseclose; Second: Keith Costello; Outcome: Approved (4–0). • Approve applications to the Wythe Bland Foundation — Moved: Keith Costello; Second: Patrick Groseclose; Outcome: Approved (4–0).

The meeting record shows no public comments. Chair Randy Johnson and County Administrator Cameron B. Burton certified the minutes and the meeting adjourned following a unanimous motion to close.