Meals tax increase in Amherst? Pittsylvania to pilot Citizens Academy
The third of several summaries this week in local government in the Fifth District
I certainly had hoped to get this out by 9 a.m. this morning but there were delays. And the first meeting is less than four hours from now, so I’ll dispense with an introduction and the pointed bullets, but don’t skimp on the reading material below!
Amherst Supervisors to hold public hearing on meals tax increase
The five member Board of Supervisors in Amherst County meet at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building at 153 Washington Street in Amherst.
After the call to order, the approval of the agenda, the invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Citizen Comment period, there will be a public hearing on the increase of the meals tax to help finance debt service for additions at Amherst High School.
“As part of the Board of Supervisors' deliberations regarding the request from the school division for additional funding to fully finance the Amherst County High School renovation project, along with several other capital improvement projects looming in the near future, the Board of Supervisors determined that it would be best to increase the meals tax from 4 percent to 6 percent as a means of providing a revenue stream for such projects. Staff advertised a 2 percent increase, up to 6 percent,” reads the staff report.
Staff at Davenport Public Finance have provided a series of scenarios for financing including using some of the county’s unassigned fund balance.
There are three other public hearings.
A landowner seeks a special exception for land zoned R-2 to have a single-wide manufactured home on property on Boxwood Circle. (staff report).
Another landowner seeks a special exception for R-2 property to allow a family day home for up to children. This is at 250 Crescent Lane. (staff report)
A couple seek a special exception for land zoned A-1 to allow a short-term tourist rental of a dwelling. This is at 233 Athlone Lane. (staff report)
There will also be a special presentation from Firefly updating their efforts to bring broadband to more parts of the county through the Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) project. (view the presentation)
Under old business, Supervisors will vote to execute a bond sale associated with the $14 million gap needed to complete the high school project. A public hearing for this sale was held on March 15 allowing up to $35 million. However, a refinancing that had been anticipated was instead canceled. (staff report)
There are two items under new business.
The U.S. Forest Service is planning to increase recreation fees including the Oronoco campground in Amherst County. Supervisors will get a briefing. (staff report) (USDA briefing materials)
There will be an update on how Amherst has used it share of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. There’s $92,400.29 left over which may be put toward the purchase of a fire truck. (staff report)
Finally, I love when City Managers, County Administrators, and County Executives produce periodic updates on where projects are. This is very useful to anyone who wants to know what’s happening.
Pittsylvania County to consider changes to RPD zoning, FY24 budget amendments
The seven members of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors meet at 3:30 p.m. for a work session followed by a regular business meeting. They meet in the Board Meeting Room at 39 Bank Street SE in Chatham (work session packet).
There are six items on this agenda for discussion.
There’s to be an update on the real property reassessment for 2024. The company has hired the firm Pearson’s to conduct the work with the new values going into effect on January 1. For more information on this topic, visit the county’s webpage.
There will be an update on the RiverStreet Broadband project. A groundbreaking for their work took place at the Riceville Java Fire Department in Java, VA on March 29, 2023. There’s a webpage for that, too.
There will be an update on the signage associated with public hearings. I could not find a webpage for this one.
There will be a presentation on the creation of a Citizens’ Academy to help increase awareness of how local government works. According to the presentation, one purpose is to “generate a pipeline of residents willing to serve and volunteer on County boards, commissions and groups.” A pilot program will be launched this November after election day.
There will be a discussion of amendments to FY24 budget that will preview the public hearing in the regular meeting. .
There will be a discussion of the FY24 Capital Improvements Fund
The work session will end with a closed session with two components, including an economic development update.
The regular session begins at 7 p.m. (regular session agenda)
There are four rezoning public hearings.
A couple seeks a rezoning of 2.28 acres of land from Residential Suburban Subdivision to Agricultural. This is in the Callands-Gretna Election District. This will allow a second dwelling unit to be built on the property. (page 59)
An individual seeks a rezoning of 2.38 acres of land from Residential Suburban Subdivision to Agricultural. This is in the Dan River district. This will allow the property to be consolidated with an adjacent parcel already zoned A-1. (page 70)
Another individual also seeks a rezoning of 11.18 acres from Residential Suburban Subdivision to Agricultural. This is in the Chatham-Blairs Election District. The purpose is to allow the land to be subdivided. (page 83)
Another couple seeks a rezoning of four parcels totaling 20.78 acres from Residential Suburban Subdivision to Agricultural. This is in the Tunstall Election District. This will allow the land to be used for agricultural purposes. (page 93)
After that is the aforementioned public hearing on the budget (page 103), as well as a public hearing on amendments to the county’s zoning code.
There are proposed changes to the Residential Planned Unit Development district to increase the required setbacks from 35 feet to 100 feet, though Supervisors could still have the power to reduce them. There’s also a new requirement that all of these types of developments must be connected to public water and sewer. (page 121)
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors next meet on October 17.
Reading material for Amherst and Pittsylvania
Amherst Co. Service Authority puts James River pump station project on hold indefinitely, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 6, 2023
Tunstall voting precinct moves back to high school, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee, September 9, 2023
Lawmaker: State budget includes $6 million to aid in CVTC redevelopment efforts, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 9, 2023
Amherst board OKs resolution that moves along high school addition, renovation, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 9, 2023
Dudley to run for re-election for Pittsylvania supervisors, Debra Farrell, Atlavista Journal, September 14, 2023
Republican School Board Rejects State's Transgender Policies, Nick Mordowanec, Newsweek, September 15, 2023
Amherst sheriff's candidates address voters at forum in Madison Heights, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 16, 2023
Amherst School Board opts against adopting state's model transgender policy, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 16, 2023
Amherst Commonwealth's Attorney candidates make their cases to voters at forum, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 16, 2023
Candidate forums kick off for elections in Pittsylvania County, Charles Wilborn, Danville Register & Bee, September 16, 2023
Amherst schools honor the late Dr. Ed Hopkins, longtime county educator, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), September 16, 2023
School district bucks parental rights, votes against Gov. Youngkin’s policy, The Lion (Daily Caller News Foundation), Kate Anderson, September 18, 2023