March 12, 2025: Meetings today in Amherst, Albemarle, Charlotte, Fluvanna, Hanover, and Lynchburg
Charlotte County Supervisors to honor colleague who resigned after pleading guilty to five counts of not disclosing information about property ownership
None of us were alive when the United States Constitution came into effect in the late 1780’s but we’re alive now and eligible to participate in a political system. But where to start?
In my early days of journalism, I dreamed of being a national reporter and traveled to New Hampshire to cover the 1996 Presidential Primary. Something soured me on the experience, and I quit journalism.
Somehow I got back to it by covering stories for WVTF Public Radio in Roanoke, stories that disappeared into the airwaves never to return as this was pre-Internet. I still have the tapes, though, and when I listen back I can hear my curiosity about this part of Virginia. This is home.
I first began work as a reporter over 30 years ago. I’m a first-generation American and I’ve devoted my life trying to understand how humans organize themselves and trying to understand rules designed to ensure fair play and to protect those who are vulnerable. I’ve done this while the profession of journalism has shifted.
For the past five years, I’ve made a living as an independent journalist supported by people who want to read what I write. As I approach the fifth anniversary of my return to journalism, I’m relaunching this newsletter because this is a unique time in American history and I want to cover what I can. I also want to provide people access to a level of government that is looked down upon by most of the journalists I’ve ever met.
In any case, here’s what’s happening on March 12 in several communities of Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District.
Lynchburg City Council / School Board Committee to review maintenance needs
Fresh off a very long meeting with several public hearings on Tuesday, at least some of the members of the Lynchburg City Council are back at it again with a joint committee meeting at the I.T. Conference Center at 3550 Young Place. (meeting info)
The meeting reviews work that began three years ago to try to assess the physical condition of the city’s schools.
“In 2022, Lynchburg City School contracted with Dominion 7 to provide an assessment of the building conditions of our traditional PreK-12 schools. Included in the deliverables was an outline of all architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil repairs that are needed to the existing infrastructure,” reads a presentations in the packet.
Hanover Supervisors to get an update on master plan for the county airport
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. in the Hanover County Administration buildings in the Board Room. This is at 7516 County Complex Road if you wanted to go. (meeting overview)
There will be several presentations.
One is on the transition of the group Senior Connections to the SPAN Center.
The second is an update on the Airport Master Plan. This process got underway in the fall of 2023.
The third is additional information on County Administrator John Budesky’s proposed budget and capital improvement program for fiscal year 2026.
The fourth is from the Department of Public Utilities on a proposed payment arrangement policy.
The fifth is related to a tax claim that’s being settled with a compromise. More details in this memo from Treasurer Timothy Boschen.
The consent agenda includes items such as a request to advertise a public hearing on April 9, 2025 for a public hearing on nominations to the South Anna and Cold Harbor seats on the School Board, an amendment to the utility service agreement with the Pamunkey Regional Jail Authority, and a proclamation for Spirit of Volunteerism Week set to begin April 20, 2025.
Fluvanna County to hold budget work session
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors will hold a budget work session at 5:30 p.m. in the Morris Room. (agenda)
The following is reprinted from the February 26, 2025 edition of my other newsletter but posted to Information Charlottesville.
Real estate assessments in Fluvanna increased by 25 percent for this year, but the proposed $115.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 from County Administrator Eric Dahl is based on a reduction in the real property tax rates.
“My budget is based upon a real estate tax rate of $0.72 [per $100 of assessed value],” Dahl said at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors on February 18. (review the budget book for FY2026)
That’s a reduction from the current rate of $0.844 per $100 of assessed values.
Assessments in Fluvanna County were updated this year and the average value increased by about 25 percent. With that increase, what’s known as the equalized-rate dropped to $0.689 to bring in the same amount of revenue as fiscal year 2025. That means that Dahl’s budget still means an increased tax payment for more property owners.
“What my budget proposal does is it results in a four and a half percent [tax] increase,” Dahl said.
A look at the revenue sources in the recommended budget for FY26 (Credit: Fluvanna County)
The personal property tax will remain at $4.10 per $100 of assessed value. No other tax rates were adjusted.
Dahl said one of the drivers in the budget is the recent creation of a new Department of Emergency Service. There have also been new requests for additional deputies for the Sheriff’s Office. He also noted inflation is currently at an annual rate of three percent which increases the costs of doing business.
“The overall increase in county expenditures is a little over $4.1 million, which reflects a 3.7 percent increase from the FY25 amended budget,” Dahl said.
That includes a $228,000 increase that will allow for one additional deputy and two promotions. There’s additional $248,000 tied to the new emergency services department to cover a fire chief position. Fluvanna’s share of debt service for the James River Water Authority increased by $375,000.
“Social services is reflecting an $109,000 increase primarily due to in my budget proposal I have included one new position for a family services specialist and then they also are showing some increases in public assistance programs,” Dahl said.
The recommended budget also includes a three percent cost of living increase for all county employees.
Earlier in the meeting, the Board had a discussion about the steep increase in assessments, which had not been conducted since 2023.
“We are still facing a housing market that is, you know, very hot in the sense and especially in certain types of homes,” said Rivanna District Supervisor Tony O’Brien.
The median sales price for a home in Fluvanna County in the final quarter of 2024 was $370,000 according to data compiled by the Charlottesville Albemarle Association of Realtors.
There is a budget work session scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Morris Room today. This is the deadline to set the maximum real estate tax rate for the public hearing. There will be a budget work session each Wednesday until April 23 when a meeting to adopt the budget is expected to be held. The public hearing on the real estate tax rate and the public hearing on the budget are scheduled for April 9.
Charlotte Supervisors to vote on resolution honoring an outgoing colleague
The first time I produced this newsletter, I always enjoyed looking at the packet for the meetings of the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors. There’s always a decoration and this month’s version does not disappoint.
The seven-member Board of Supervisors will meet at 1 p.m. in the County Administration Building. They’ll get an update from the Virginia Department of Transportation, Empower Broadband, and Dominion on solar projects.
One of the reasons this newsletter exists is to augment the work of other journalists across the Fifth District. Since the hiatus of this newsletter, I’ve lost track of the elected officials. I see that there’s a resolution on this agenda honoring Gary Walker for ten years of service on the Board of Supervisors.
What happened?
Then I scroll down and there’s another resolution directing the county attorney to petition the Circuit Court for a writ of election to fill the vacancy in the Charlotte Court House Board.
Seriously, what happened?
To find out, I did a search and discover from SoVaNow that Walker plead guilty in September 2024 to five counts of failing to disclose personal interests in certain property. This was an Alford plea which means Walker did not admit guilt but acknowledges there’s evidence to get a conviction.
This example of local journalism also tells us that Walker agreed to resign from the Board but he had six months until he actually left office. This story reminds me I have to pull the required Statement of Economic Interest forms for all of the elected officials in my communities.
And sure enough, there’s Walker in the minutes of the February 18 meeting listed as giving the invocation. These minutes also tell us that they went into closed session. Immediately after, County Administrator Daniel Witt announced his retirement effective June 30, 2025. Walker was the lone vote against a resolution to accept Witt’s resignation.
Amherst County Supervisors to hold budget workshop
The five-member Amherst County Board of Supervisors meets at 3 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room for a budget workshop. The materials aren’t available in advance and the budget page on the county website only has the FY25 budget. Justin Faulconer has a story on the budget posted March 11 on the Lynchburg News & Advance which may be behind a paywall.
If you’re unfamiliar with this process, there’s some helpful information on the budget page.
“A balanced proposed operating budget has to be advertised two weeks prior to a public hearing for citizen comments,” read the page. “There is a waiting period after the public hearing before the Board of Supervisors may adopt the fiscal year operating budget.”
This workshop will be a discussion of revenue projects and then the proposed budget. To get ready, download the version for the current fiscal year.
Albemarle County to hold second budget work session
The six-member Board of Supervisors in Albemarle County meet today at 3 p.m. for their second budget work session. In late February, County Executive Jeffrey Richardson recommended a budget based on an increase in the real property tax rate.
“The budget is balanced on a tax rate of recommended tax rate of 89.4 cents, which is a 4 cent dedicated property, real property tax increase,” Richardson said.
The proposed title for the recommended budget is “Investment in Action – Prioritizing our Community’s Safety and Well-Being.” (download the full budget here) (view the presentation)
Richardson is also recommending returning the personal property tax rate to the pre-pandemic level of $4.28 per $100 of assessed value. The meals tax is anticipated to stay at six percent and the lodging tax is anticipated to remain at nine percent.
The total budget of $642,386,163 is just under two hundred thousand dollars larger than the adopted budget for FY25 of $642,196,101.
If you want to know more, head over to Information Charlottesville for the rest of the story.
Reading material for F193
Halifax Town Council to hear from Engaging Halifax County, The Gazette-Virginian (paywall), March 10, 2025
Library of Virginia announces $2M in court record grants; Halifax County gets $22,000, The Gazette-Virginian (paywall), March 10, 2025
Agenda Danville: Planning commission to consider child therapy location that would ‘provide essential service,’ create 200 jobs, Grace Mamon, Cardinal News, March 10, 2025
Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors marks 100 years, Emily Hemphill, Charlottesville Daily Progress, March 10, 2025
Charlottesville Reveals Balanced Budget and Expands Crisis Communication Efforts, Olivia Davis, Cville Right Now, March 10, 2025
Charles Alexander, one of the Charlottesville 12, reflects on integration and life after, Sophie Long, Cavalier Daily, March 10, 2025
The Democratic Party of Va. will pick a new leader this month. Here are the candidates’ platforms, Charlotte Renee Woods, Virginia Mercury, March 11, 2025
Prince Edward School Board chooses next year’s district calendar, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, March 11, 2025