Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting Summary – November 19, 2025

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met on November 19, 2025, at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium. Chair Jim Andrews (Samuel Miller District) presided, with Supervisors Ann Malik (White Hall), Ned Galloway (Rio), Diantha McKeel (Jack Jewett), and B. Lapisto Kirtley (Ravenna) present. Supervisor Mike Bruder (Scottsville) was absent; a quorum was present. The board adopted the final agenda as amended, approved a consent agenda with two items pulled, recognized Restorative Justice Week, conducted a work session on the Five-Year Financial Plan, adopted updated financial management policies, approved a special exception for a clean earth fill activity, received a county executive report, and entered closed session.

Consent Calendar

• The board adopted the consent agenda as amended after pulling items 8.1 (May 7, 2025 and June 4, 2025 minutes) and 8.4. The remaining items were approved unanimously by roll call.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alicia Lenahan (Scottsville District) addressed the board remotely. She urged the board to adopt a resolution requiring ICE agents to be unmasked, identify themselves, present warrants, and drive marked vehicles. She cited an FBI bulletin warning about criminals impersonating ICE agents and argued that requiring identification is not unreasonable. She referenced the board's prior discussions since April regarding protecting immigrant and refugee neighbors' constitutional rights.

Discussion Items

Proclamation Recognizing Restorative Justice Week

• The board adopted a proclamation recognizing November 16–22, 2025 as Restorative Justice Week. Central Virginia Community Justice, established in 2022, has supported over 200 individuals through restorative justice processes.
• Ashley Senelli Matthews, Executive Director of Central Virginia Community Justice, spoke about a case where a distracted driver struck a pedestrian; through restorative justice, the responsible person gave 25 presentations to over 600 people, including 400 driving-age youth, about distracted driving. She expressed gratitude for county support and collaboration with Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Pollock. Board members voiced support for restorative justice's role in healing and community rebalancing.

Five-Year Financial Plan Work Session

• Andy Bowman, Assistant Chief Financial Officer, and Caitlin Malcolm, Chief of Budget, presented the Five-Year Financial Plan. The plan projects a general fund gap of about 1.3% in FY27 growing to 3% by FY31. A prior year's forecast had shown a 5% gap in FY27 growing to 9%; improvements are attributed to the 4-cent real estate tax increase in FY26, ongoing investments, and a changing tax base expected to benefit out-years.
• Commercial/industrial real estate as a share of the tax base has declined from 15% (2015) to 11.3% (2025), but is projected to rise above 15% within five years, helped by developments including AstraZeneca, Home Depot, and Ravanan Futures.
• The expenditure assumptions include $10 million per year in FY27–28 for obligations such as FEMA Safer grant expirations, VRS rate updates, health fund increases, Charlottesville revenue sharing (up 30% over FY23–26), court renovations, regional jail debt service, SPCA contract escalation, and public safety staffing study implementation.
• Board members discussed economic development scenarios, multifamily vs. single-family cost of services, communication about tax impacts, school enrollment projections, UVA's regional impact, and the need to ground school board discussions in shared data. Supervisor Galloway requested a scenario analysis of additional large economic development projects; staff stated they had not yet created such a scenario but could. Supervisor Kirtley asked for more information on agribusiness; staff agreed to follow up.

Financial Management Policies Update (Action Item)

• Andy Bowman presented updates to the county's financial management policies, noting the last update was September 2022. The updates include changes to grants policy, arbitrage compliance, clarity language, and a new allocation of shared revenue formula option.
• The key debate was whether to dedicate future annual growth of the 3.2 cents tax earmarked for public safety in FY26. Option A would treat the growth as general revenue; Option B would keep it dedicated to public safety. Staff estimated Option B would shift about $348,000 more to public safety in the first year (approximately three police positions), while reducing public school and capital growth by about $300,000 and $50,000 respectively.
• Supervisor Malik, Lapisto Kirtley, McKeel, and Andrews expressed support for Option B, citing prior public commitments and public safety needs. Supervisor Galloway noted he was previously interested in keeping the amount dedicated, possibly not all to public safety, but supported Option B for planning purposes. The board voted to adopt the revised financial management policies as set forth in Attachment A, with the revision adopting Option B. The motion passed unanimously.

Special Exception SE 2025-00029 – 2238 Richmond Road

• Francis McCall, Deputy Zoning Administrator, presented a request to waive the 50-foot access setback for a proposed 1.77-acre clean earth fill activity on parcels 48 and 49 along U.S. Route 250 East. The access road exists and is adjacent to a church property. Staff recommended approval, and the county engineer confirmed the gravel access is adequate. The board approved the resolution unanimously.

County Executive's Report

• County Executive Jeff Richardson highlighted: Veterans Day ceremony (over 120 residents attended), community gathering at Simpson Park, housing choice voucher application assistance, middle school sports partnership with ACPS (178 cross-country participants, projected 400 for girls' volleyball), Youth Climate Summit (120+ students, 28 experts), the new pedestrian bridge over Route 29, a new employee professional development program with PVCC, three staff professional recognitions, a fire rescue training series (166 personnel), and a letter praising ACPD officers' compassion during a suicide call.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the amended consent agenda.
• Recognized Restorative Justice Week (November 16–22, 2025) via proclamation.
• Received the Five-Year Financial Plan presentation; board provided direction for further analysis on economic development scenarios and agribusiness.
• Adopted the revised Financial Management Policies with Option B (dedicating growth of 3.2 cents to public safety) by unanimous roll call vote.
• Approved SE 2025-00029 (access setback waiver for clean earth fill activity) by unanimous vote.
• Held a closed session to discuss the annual performance of the county executive; certified by recorded vote that only lawful exempt matters were discussed.
• Adjourned to December 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. for a special legislative forum.