Nelson County supervisors advertise FY25 budget with $610,000 boost for schools, weigh smaller debt plan

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors voted to advertise the proposed FY25 budget that includes an additional $610,000 in local funding for the School Division and set a public hearing for June 4, with a final vote scheduled for the regular meeting on June 11.

County Administrator Candice W. McGarry and Director of Finance and Human Resources Linda K. Staton told the board that the county could fund a reduced long‑term debt scenario while adding funds to schools. McGarry presented two debt scenarios from Davenport: one that covers $35.1 million of projects the board has already committed to and a more proactive $46 million scenario that would use reserve funds through 2031 but allow modest extra transfers to maintain capacity. The $35.1 million package includes a $2.6 million Larkin land purchase, a $10 million Social Services building and a $22.5 million high school renovation; staff estimated recurring debt service under the committed projects at roughly $2.48 million.

J. David Parr, West District supervisor and board chair, said he was not opposed to adjusting the plan, noting he "would not have too much heartburn with adjusting to $46 million and allocating the $610,000 to the School Division," a move he and other supervisors said would preserve some recurring contingency.

Board members pressed staff on timing and tradeoffs. Ernie Q. Reed, Central District supervisor and vice chair, and Jesse N. Rutherford, East District supervisor, emphasized the county faces recurring school funding pressure tied to changes in the composite index and the Standards of Quality (SOQ). Staton told the board the estimated gross cost for a 3% raise was $675,000, offset by state reimbursement of $143,155 for a net local cost of $531,845; including the $610,000 increase the proposed local school funding would total $19,154,772.

Dr. Jessica Ligon, South District supervisor, framed personnel retention as more than pay: "It was not always about money, it was about pride, enjoying the people you work with, and leaving at the end of the day knowing you did a good job," she said, describing conversations she has had with teachers. Reed disagreed with Ligon’s characterization of teacher sentiment during the discussion.

The board also reached consensus not to provide additional local funding for a Social Services position that staff said was already filled using vacancy savings through the end of the current fiscal year. Finance staff reported the county portion for that position in the FY25 budget would have been roughly $60,149; by withholding that local funding the county would return that amount to Recurring Contingency.

McGarry and Staton warned of other near‑term fiscal pressures, including an anticipated jump in debt service for a jail renovation beginning in 2026 (estimated about $382,000) and the possible end of regional landfill capacity around 2029 with attendant future hauling costs. Supervisors discussed the option to preserve more debt capacity by continuing a $3.3 million transfer to Debt Service and whether to add an extra $610,000 transfer to maintain the previously contemplated $57 million capacity.

The board directed staff to advertise the FY25 budget with the additional $610,000 for schools. The meeting adjourned at 3:03 p.m. after a motion from Supervisor Jesse N. Rutherford and a second from Supervisor Ernie Q. Reed; the motion passed by acclamation.