Nottoway supervisors adopt $59.29 million FY2026 budget after split vote

The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 on May 29 to adopt a fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $59,286,424, contingent on the receipt of outstanding federal and state funding and carryover obligations. Vice Chair Norton moved the adoption; a roll-call vote recorded four ayes and one nay.

Board discussion before the vote centered on how recent requests for EMS and fire funding had grown and whether the county’s current reserves were sufficient. Supervisor John (last name not specified in the record) pressed for clear oversight and possible contractual protections for private volunteer entities that receive county money. County staff summarized prior public comments and explained that some increases reflect state-mandated matches and grant-funded items.

Miss Meyer, representing the school division, told the board the school division bases its budget on the state’s calculation tool and said, “We don’t pull numbers out of thin air. We strictly go based upon what the state says,” warning that without state and local matches programs such as pre-K, reading specialists and at-risk supports would be cut. Several supervisors referenced a $2.1 million required local match as part of approximately $7 million in total school funding (roughly $5M state, $2M local).

The board also discussed the need to preserve reserves, citing state guidance that jurisdictions hold roughly 20–25% of their budgets in reserve. One supervisor argued that without new revenue, the county could face much steeper increases later. The board instructed staff and committee members to prepare additional detail for a work session, including proposed MOUs and financial documentation for emergency-service providers. The appropriation motion to put the budget into effect passed on roll call later in the meeting.