Council authorizes city to pass $300,000 state grant through to Leticia's House

The Williamsburg City Council voted to authorize the city manager to pass state grant funds to Leticia's House, a James City County nonprofit, after staff explained the FY 2026 state budget specified the grant must flow through a municipality.

Finance Director Miss Damron told council the state's FY 2026 budget included a $300,000 grant to Leticia's House and that the grant language required a municipal pass-through. Staff worked with the state to secure pass-through language so the city would not have to monitor expenditures.

Council members asked why Williamsburg — rather than James City County — was named in the state language. Miss Damron and others said it appears to be a one-time administrative or drafting error by the General Assembly and that this will be a one-time pass-through. Vice Mayor Dent said he thought the issue was likely an oversight and that staff had obtained acceptable language for the arrangement.

A motion to approve resolution 26-1 authorizing the city manager to pay received grant monies to Leticia's House passed by roll call.

Council recorded no additional oversight responsibilities for the city beyond acting as conduit; staff said the state's language relieves the city of monitoring responsibilities for the grant expenditures.