Loudoun County Board of Supervisors FY2027 Budget Work Session

Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM (scheduled start)

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a budget work session to discuss and consider amendments, additions, and deletions to the proposed FY2027 budget. The meeting covered presentations and resource requests from multiple county departments, followed by board motions and votes.

Budget Staff Updates

• Assistant Budget Director Mike Franks provided an update, noting that a packet with responses to most county budget questions received by March 2nd was provided to the board. An additional packet will be provided in advance of the March 9th meeting. The packet included information on permanent supportive housing, Shelter House contract award funding, and a letter from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission regarding the Loudoun Public Defender's request for funding.

Clerk of the Circuit Court

• Clerk Gary Clemens presented a milestone 30th budget presentation. He requested two positions: an Administrative Manager (included in proposed budget) and a Civil Legal Records Clerk (alternative scenario). The Administrative Manager would handle HR, payroll, facilities management, and veteran preference compliance. The Civil Legal Records Clerk would address increased workloads from expungement preparations (37% increase in filings), concealed handgun permits (31% increase), marriage celebrant duties, general civil caseload (28% increase since FY2024), and a potential new circuit court judge.
• Board members expressed support for both positions. Supervisor Kirschner indicated he would likely move to add the second position during wrap-up if funds allow.

Parks, Recreation, and Community Services

• Director Steve Torpey reported nearly 6.7 million visitors and the opening of Ashburn Recreation Center and Bless Park. The department's proposed budget includes FTE authority for expanding CASA (Childcare and School Age) program capacity by 160 daily slots (total over 3,300 children) and aligning Lovettsville summer camp staff. An arts program request ($854,000) supports implementation of the countywide comprehensive arts plan, aiming for 20% above current arts programming and engagement with 80% of local arts organizations.
• Alternative requests: Priority 1 – IT positions and a program coordinator ($439,000); Priority 2 – staff at Lucketts and Douglas Community Centers.
• Board members praised the department and discussed CASA efficiency (low enrollment at some schools vs. waitlists at others). Supervisor Laterno suggested exploring consolidations or shifts.

Health Department

• Director Dr. David Goodfriend requested five positions total (three funded, two alternative) to regain capacity lost due to federal grant cuts. Funded positions: Disease Investigation Specialist (for STI contact tracing), Epidemiologist (outbreak prevention, measles), and Healthcare Preparedness Coordinator (congregate settings). Alternative requests: Community Health Worker Supervisor and Community Health Worker (to reach vulnerable populations).
• Discussion focused on loss of federal funds, measles and syphilis trends, vaccine hesitancy, and trust in public health. The department lost 10 FTEs from federal grant endings, but only requests three for FY2027 as a bare-bones priority. Supervisor Turner noted the unstable federal environment.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services (MHSADS)

• Director Margaret Graham presented two priority requests. Priority 1: $650,000 to contract operations of three supervised living homes to a vendor, allowing county staff to be reassigned to group homes for more predictable schedules. Priority 2: Three positions (two case managers, one behavioral health team coordinator) to maintain service levels for children and families, improving access to evidence-based practices and school-to-adult transitions.
• Supervisor Croney asked about existing group homes (eight total: four for developmental disabilities, four for serious mental illness). Chair Randall requested vendor oversight details and discussed the challenge of case managers finding services.

Building and Development

• Director Natasha Alfonso-Figueroa requested an enforcement team within the Natural Resources Division: one team lead and two enforcement case managers (included in proposed budget). The team would address erosion/sediment control, stormwater management, and zoning overlay district violations (mountainside, steep slopes, etc.). They aim to resolve violations faster, educate landowners, and reduce permit review delays.
• Board members were supportive, noting improved responsiveness and the value of early compliance efforts.

Housing and Community Development

• Director Brian Regan presented two funded positions: Housing Finance Project Manager and Housing Finance Specialist, to administer the growing attainable loan program (400% increase in applications) and manage $130 million in loans. An alternative request: Administrative Assistant for the Housing Choice Voucher division, to manage a waiting list of 700 households and assist 800 current clients.
• Discussion included ARPA rental assistance program ending ($8.3 million to maintain at ARPA levels), voucher program funding flat, and challenges finding landlords who accept vouchers. Chair Randall asked about wraparound services for attainable housing residents.

Mapping and Geographic Information

• Director (unnamed in transcript) requested one GIS Analyst (alternative scenario) to serve as project lead for complex, high-priority GIS requests. The Development and Analysis division has seen increased demand from 19 departments, with 25% of 100 projects classified as highly complex or high priority. The position would free the division manager for strategic planning. 2026 marks 40 years of GIS at Loudoun County.
• Chair Randall thanked the team for historical mapping work (lynching markers). No motions made.

Planning and Zoning

• Director Dan Galindo presented two major resource requests. First, six positions (one supervising zoning inspector, four zoning inspectors, one planning technician) to enforce additional Virginia Property Maintenance Code provisions (board-directed). Second, three positions (one supervising zoning inspector, two zoning inspectors) for proactive enforcement in Western Loudoun (board priority). An alternative request for a Senior Planner in the Customer Service Center ($172,013).
• A motion was made to remove the three proactive enforcement positions ($422,829) and add the Senior Planner position ($172,013). After debate, the motion passed on a vote of 5-4-1 (Supervisor Kirstner motion, Supervisor Brixman second). Chair Randall abstained but indicated she might bring back a revised proposal at the wrap-up meeting on March 12th.

Transportation and Capital Infrastructure

• Director Shireen D'Arazio requested two Executive Assistants and one Special Projects Program Manager as priority one (total $430,000). An alternative request: one Senior Traffic Engineer ($178,843). The department has 96 positions managing over 300 projects valued at $4.7 billion. The administrative positions aim to support the senior leadership team and improve workflow; the traffic engineer would enhance traffic study reviews and data collection.
• Supervisor Laterno moved to add the Senior Traffic Engineer position, seconded by Supervisor Sainz. The motion passed 6-3. Chair Randall voted no, citing budget constraints, but noted she could support if one Executive Assistant was removed. The board will revisit on March 12th.

Key Outcomes

• Voted to approve (via motion): Remove three proactive zoning enforcement positions from Planning and Zoning and add one Senior Planner position. Fiscal impact: net reduction of $250,816 (removing $422,829, adding $172,013). Vote: 5-4-1.
• Voted to approve (via motion): Add one Senior Traffic Engineer position to Transportation and Capital Infrastructure as an alternate scenario. Fiscal impact: $178,843. Vote: 6-3.
• Other resource requests were discussed without formal votes; board members indicated they may revisit during the March 12th budget wrap-up session.
• The board canceled the March 7th (Saturday) budget work session due to scheduling.
• Next meeting: March 9th budget work session (Monday).
• Final budget vote scheduled for April 7th.