Purcellville council backs funding for police after public outcry over plan to dissolve department

The Purcellville Town Council voted April 22 to fully fund the Purcellville Police Department for fiscal year 2026 after two hours of public comment and a heated council debate over a plan to transfer local law-enforcement authority to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

The motion approved by the council allocated $3,200,000 for public safety next fiscal year and included a requirement that all seven council members participate in a follow-up strategic budget session to examine longer-term options. Council member Rayner moved the funding motion and council members Wright, Stout and Khalil supported it; council member Luke opposed the motion and the mayor abstained, according to the tally announced on the floor.

The vote followed sustained testimony from county and local officials and dozens of residents who said the town's police deliver rapid response times, school and event security, and community programs that would be difficult to replicate under county coverage. Loudoun County Supervisor Caleb Kirschner told the council he and constituents oppose eliminating the local force without clear, negotiated county support: "Eliminating the police department is the wrong solution," Kirschner said, urging the council to consult the sheriff and the county budget office before acting.

Phyllis Randall, chair at-large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, told the meeting the county's FY26 budget is already set and it had not allocated additional deputy positions to take over Purcellville policing: "The BOS has not allocated positions for extension of law enforcement into Purcellville," she said, describing a funding and staffing gap the town would face if it attempted an immediate transition.

Residents gave multiple examples of incidents where local response times mattered, including medical emergencies and violent incidents. "When response time matters most, what value is that to you? To me, it's priceless," said Lieutenant David Camp, who testified about the practical life-or-death impact of fast local responses. Students, teachers, business owners and former officers made similar points about community policing, school safety and event support.

Council deliberations focused on feasibility and timing. Town legal staff and risk management warned a July 1 transition would present practical and insurance liabilities, and staff disclosed the public-safety line in the draft FY26 budget at roughly $3.4 million, with about $3.0 million attributable to policing after revenue offsets. Staff also flagged lease and vehicle contract obligations and possible insurance premium impacts if the town moved too quickly.

Against that backdrop, council members who had expressed interest in exploring a transfer acknowledged the timeline was not realistic. The funding motion passed after an amendment asking for a prompt strategic budget meeting that includes all council members and senior staff.

The council's action preserves the Purcellville Police Department for the beginning of FY26; the strategic session will determine whether the council will pursue any future modifications, including negotiated arrangements with the county. The meeting concluded with a procedural vote to adjourn and a commitment to follow up with the public and staff on scheduling the budget session.

What happens next: the council will hold a full strategic budget session with finance staff and invited county representatives to examine service levels, contract options, and potential program cuts if the town seeks long-term savings. No formal ordinance repeal of code chapter 42 (the codified authority for the town police) was adopted at this meeting.