Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session – March 20, 2025

The Board of Supervisors held a budget work session on March 20, 2025, beginning at approximately 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium. The session focused on finalizing the proposed FY26 budget, setting advertised tax rates, and hearing public comment on affordable housing, transit funding, and other priorities. After extensive discussion, the board voted to advertise a real property tax rate of $0.894 per $100 assessed value (a 4-cent increase) and maintain the personal property rate at $4.28 per $100. The board also authorized staff to advertise the county executive’s recommended budget with technical adjustments.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Items included routine approvals and staff recommendations; specific items were not detailed in the transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Vicky Bravo (Impact) urged support for a $10 million affordable housing trust fund, stating that $8 in outside funding can be leveraged for every $1 invested, enabling 300 homes per year. She emphasized that stable housing improves children’s health, nutrition, and cognitive development.
• Pastor Colleen Swingle Titus (Park Street Christian Church) described the eight-year struggle to build 50 affordable units in partnership with Piedmont Housing Alliance. She noted that 50% of her congregation faces housing challenges, including seniors on fixed incomes and workers commuting from neighboring communities.
• Tom Ekman (Rivanna district) noted that in Albemarle County the average home price is $800,000, and over 10,000 families are one paycheck away from losing their homes. He advocated for a $10 million housing trust fund, citing 800 other U.S. communities with successful funds.
• Major Mark Van Meter (Salvation Army) described plans to replace the current 55-bed shelter with a 114-bed high‑barrier shelter and a new 50‑bed low‑barrier shelter (total capital cost ~$31 million). He requested $3.5 million from the county’s affordable housing fund.
• Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum) criticized the slow progress on converting underperforming commercial offices to residential use. Despite a unanimous 2024 Board resolution of intent, staff has not implemented the five‑word zoning change; he urged prioritizing this low‑cost, high‑impact housing solution.
• Francis Lee Van Dell (Impact) reiterated the need for an affordable housing trust fund and called for better attention to those slipping through the cracks.
• Savid O’Flynn (Community Climate Collaborative C3) supported the housing fund and noted that housing investments are also climate investments. He pointed out that the FY26 budget contains only a $200,000 reappropriation (not new money) for climate action, and urged the board to direct staff to plan for a $1 million climate action fund matching the city’s program.

Discussion Items

• Transit Funding (CAT & MicroCAT) – Staff recommended an $822,000 increase for Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) to cover the phase‑out of federal pandemic relief, full‑year costs of a collective bargaining contract, and other cost drivers; service levels remain unchanged. The MicroCAT program will see a $440,000 reduction to $1.3 million due to savings from an extended grant. The existing fare‑free policy continues through FY26; a decision on reinstating fares will be needed in FY27. Board members expressed support for consolidated regional transit and for leveraging transit to serve school transportation needs.
• Parks, Recreation & Culture – The parks operating budget includes full‑year costs for Biscuit Run and Rivanna Village Park, a $32,000 increase for adaptive recreation, and $33,000 to expand invasive species management (plus $100,000 in a one‑time state grant). The regional library system (JMRL) and the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) are funded at levels determined by formulas; the CACVB increase reflects strong prior‑year lodging tax revenues. A new process allocated $85,000 to 17 cultural arts and festival agencies.
• Administration & Efficiency – Staff highlighted ongoing efficiency efforts, including the elimination of 11.7 vacant FTEs (net reduction of 5.7 after adding 6 police officers), and $1 million in annual cost savings achieved through process improvements, technology modernization, and space management. Administrative overhead remains low (under 6% of the general fund).
• Technical Adjustments & School Gap – Staff recommended technical updates: adding a $252,000 revenue offset for two new school resource officers (SROs), correcting technology fee allocations, and adjusting the regional jail debt timing (one‑time savings). The school division’s FY26 funding gap is now $558,000 after the correction, and the recurring gap is about $15 million. Board members discussed options for dedicating a portion of the tax increase to schools, public safety, or housing.
• Tax Rate Deliberation – Supervisor Galloway announced he would support advertising the recommended 89.4¢ rate, noting that older, more affordable neighborhoods experienced double‑digit assessment increases. Supervisor Malik suggested that the 0.8¢ above the 3.2¢ public safety dedication should go entirely to housing to build a lasting fund. Supervisor Pruitt proposed a 30‑cent increase in the personal property tax to fund a $10 million housing trust fund, but the idea did not gain board support. Supervisor Lapisto Kirtley favored keeping the 0.4¢ for schools as a more immediate need. Supervisor McKeel supported the 89.4¢ rate and expressed interest in using the CIP for housing. After discussion, the board voted to advertise the recommended tax rates.
• Housing Trust Fund & CIP – Supervisor Galloway proposed exploring the use of capital improvement plan (CIP) debt to leverage affordable housing, modeled on the transportation leveraging program. The board agreed to discuss this further at an April 7 work session, along with the housing trust fund concept and the adequacy of the emergency assistance fund.

Key Outcomes

• Tax Rates for Advertisement (approved 6‑0): Real property – $0.894 per $100 assessed value; Personal property – $4.28 per $100; Machinery & tools – $4.28 per $100. The board will hold public hearings on April 23 and 30.
• Budget for Advertisement (approved 6‑0): The FY26 proposed budget is the county executive’s recommended budget with staff technical adjustments. Further board amendments may be considered before final adoption.
• Cancellation of March 26 Work Session (approved 6‑0): The board will instead meet for a special work session on April 7 to discuss the housing trust fund, CIP leveraging, and potential adjustments to the emergency assistance program.
• Blighted Property Declaration (approved 6‑0): 5624 Brownsville Road was declared blighted; the county may proceed with abatement and seek cost recovery.
• Special Use Permit – Charlottesville Community Church (approved 6‑0): A 500‑seat church on Pebble Drive (Scottsville district) was approved with conditions including a shared‑use path, right‑turn lane, and landscaping buffers.