Board reviews agency requests; funds Health Department, JABA and library increases while asking for follow-ups

During a lengthy FY25 budget work session on March 18, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors reviewed agency funding requests and approved staff recommendations on several items while flagging others for follow-up.

The Board agreed to fund the Nelson County Health Department at $357,637. County staff reported the Health Department’s new director, Ryan McKay, expressed skepticism about a planned July move into the Heritage Center because financing and contractor payments were still being finalized; Nelson’s local share for health department operations was noted to be 45 percent (state 55 percent).

Supervisors approved funding for Jefferson Madison Regional Library at $382,965, which included local increases tied to staffing and insurance cost pressures, and supported Jefferson Area Board on Aging (JABA) funding at $111,904 to serve about 100 additional people next year. Board members funded JAUNT at the requested $90,179 after noting JAUNT’s request had fallen compared with the prior year and discussed opportunities to coordinate with a regional transportation study.

Supervisors asked for more information from the EMS Council and Thomas Jefferson EMS (TJEMS) on reimbursement, efficiency and the value of requested increases; they deferred a final decision on some EMS funding until Board representative feedback from separate council meetings. The Board invited Sarah Hanks to brief them on MACAA and noted staffing and program transitions at that agency.

The Board also approved a $9,255 funding increase for Foothills Child Advocacy Center after discussing a 250 percent year-over-year increase in Nelson County child cases served (from eight to 28 children) and the $3,085 average cost per child for center services.

Board members asked staff to share the VDEM 2018 EMS assessment referenced by supervisors and to provide more detailed data on call volumes and agency efficiencies to inform future decisions.