Albemarle supervisors weigh 2025 legislative priorities: photo speed enforcement, school sales-tax option and housing asks

Interim County Attorney Andy Herrick and Interim Economic Development Director Emily Kilroy briefed the board on a draft legislative package for the 2025 General Assembly that blends local ordinance authority requests and budget amendment asks.

Herrick urged the board to continue pursuing expanded local authority for photo speed enforcement beyond school and construction zones, and he reviewed a proposed reimbursement option for local responses to hoaxes and community threats. "These are our top-level asks of the General Assembly," Herrick said as he outlined the items. Kilroy outlined two budget amendment requests: a multi-million-dollar ask for Ravenna (Ravenna) Futures infrastructure, and a $1,000,000 request to develop an ADA trail segment at Biscuit Run Park.

Supervisors suggested several additions to staff—s packet: support language for landlord-tenant enforcement, expanded parking enforcement tools (including use of uniformed civilian personnel), truck/oversize enforcement in specific corridors, and an explicit policy position in favor of digital equity. David Blunt, the county—s legislative liaison with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, said several JLARC and study reports will be released this fall and recommended targeted outreach to the delegation ahead of the short session.

Board members directed staff to refine language, incorporate agreed additions into the positions and policy statements, and return with a final package for adoption at the Oct. 2 meeting.