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Board of Supervisors Meeting - Jun 04 2026 Minutes
Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM
220 Judicial Pl. Heathsville, VA 22473
Members Present: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, Keith Harris
Staff Present: County Administrator Tadlock, Assistant County Administrator Drew Basye, Finance Operations Specialist I Morgan Wilson, IT Technician Carl Hayden
1. Opening of Meeting
A. Call to Order
The special meeting was convened by Chairman Brann and held at the Northumberland Courthouse located at 220 Judicial Place, Heathsville, VA 22473.
2. Public Hearing (6:00P.M.)
A. Effective Rate Increase: Northumberland County proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.57 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed tax rate would be $0.0979 per $100 of assessed value, or 20.7 percent.
Notice for tax increase_FY27.doc
County Administrator Tadlock stated that the notice of the proposed real property tax increase public hearing is required by Virginia Code §58.1-3321 due to the reassessment. The assessment increase is 58.32% and the lowered rate necessary to offset that increased assessment is 0.4721 cents per $100 assessed value. The rate of which has been advertised is 0.57 cents per $100 which can be lowered by the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Tadlock provided an overview of the meeting with the County's financial advisor and stated that one of the things the County has been looking at is doing a 20% unassigned fund balance and trying to build that back up.
Public Hearing Open.
Mr. Jay Lightfoot stated that normally substantial tax increases like this occur when we're investing in the economy like building a new school, but I don't see that happening in Northumberland County. He wondered what's happening in the
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County to make the taxes go up like this and what we can do to keep this from happening again.
Mr. Christopher Huczko shared similar concerns as Mr. Lightfoot and spoke on behalf of the senior citizens in the County. He believes 50 cents on $100 is more reasonable than 57 cents.
Mr. Robert Morgan commented on his assessment increase and stated that he and his wife are retired, living on a fixed income. He asked that the Board not "California our Virginia."
Public Hearing Closed.
3. Presentations
A. Poor House Tract Phase I
Poor House Tract Phase I Presentation Final(26May26).pptx
EDC Director Robert Bullard presented their phase one analysis for the Poor House Tract. The full presentation can be accessed in the attachments. He explained that they are looking for the Board's recommendations for three of the ten options that they'd like the EDC to use for phase two of the analysis for the Poor House Tract. They weighed the scenarios based on different criteria and their key finding was that eco-tourism/recreation emerged at the strongest cross-scenario performer and appears to be the Poor House Tract's most resilient long-term development pathway. Mr. Bullard stated that they aren't suggesting that one solution fits all, but they are recommending to start with one or two of their three options and see how they score as time goes by. Mr. Bullard presented the phased timeline to the Board in preparation for the FY28 budget cycle to make their request.
Chairman Brann asked what incentives the County could offer to bring businesses here.
Mr. Bullard stated that the County is very limited with those types of incentives. He stated that the EDC has mentioned if there's any infrastructure requirements, perhaps the County fund or provide discounts for them for this. He mentioned if there are any permit requirements, maybe the County could reduce the fee for those permits.
Chairman Brann stated that he'd like the Board to have discussions on the County owned property that the County can't do anything with. He asked that this be placed on the agenda for July. Chairman Brann stated there's a lot of land that they could sell and use the funds to invest in the County.
4. Board Discussion Items
A. NES Playground Funding
return rev options for April consideration.pdf Northumberland ES-Existing_Rev B-Site Plan.pdf PROPOSAL #36536C.pdf 6_4_26_ BOS Pres.pdf
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Chairman Brann asked what was needed to get the funding squared away for the playground.
Mr. Tadlock stated that the transfer of funds to the prior year account has been done, so now presented to the Board is another transfer from the prior year account to the school VIP CIP account in the amount of $332,401.
Dr. Leslie presented a PowerPoint that shows the options before the Board on how to distribute the $322,401. Her presentation can be accessed in the attachments. County Administrator Tadlock stated that the Board would just be identifying which funds they want to go to which project and that will go along with the transfer request. As far as the procurement of the purchase, that would fall back on the school division to procure the contracts for whichever purchases are to be made.
Assistant County Administrator Drew Basye mentioned that the request is for $322,401, but the school has identified additional money that is sitting in the prior year account as well so that balance is $346,558.91. There was roughly $24,000 additional found in prior year reimbursements that is not currently being considered, but it could be if that's the direction of the Board.
B. School Buses
Buses CIP 11122 Final.pdf
C. Transfer of Funds - School Capital Improvement
CIP transfer request June 2026.pdf
Motion to approve a transfer of funds from revenue account 10-1800-189932 to revenue account 36-4100-410030 in the amount of $346,558.91 to move prior year reimbursement funds to the school CIP VIP account so they can be used for CIP projects. The Board approved to earmark $184,874.91 of those funds for the elementary school playground and to earmark $161,684 of those funds to use for a new bus purchase.
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: James Long
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
**Chairman Brann requested a 10-minute recess.
Supervisor Fisher stated that he receives a lot of complaints from the public about not being able to hear the Board at the meetings. The Board stated that they would remind each other to speak into their microphones so the public can here.
5. Items Related to Closed Meeting
A. Convene into Closed Meeting § 2.2-3711 A(1),(29)
Motion to Action: A. Convene into Closed Meeting: convene into closed meeting as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1)(29);1. Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment,
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promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments or schools of public institutions of higher education where such evaluation will necessarily involve discussion of the performance of specific individuals. Any teacher shall be permitted to be present during a closed meeting in which there is a discussion or consideration of a disciplinary matter that involves the teacher and some student and the student involved in the matter is present, provided that the teacher makes a written request to be present to the presiding officer of the appropriate board. Nothing in this subdivision, however, shall be construed to authorize a closed meeting by a local governing body or an elected school board to discuss compensation matters that affect the membership of such body or board collectively. 29. Discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interviews of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: Al Fisher
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
B. Reconvene into Open Meeting
Motion to reconvene into open session.
Moved by: Al Fisher; seconded by: James Long
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
C. Certification of Closed Meeting
Motion that the Northumberland Board of Supervisors return to Public Meeting and certify by roll call vote that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered during the closed meeting. The vote on the motion was passed by a roll call vote as follows: Aye: Keith Harris, AC Fisher, Jr., James M. Long, James W. Brann, Charles H. Williams
Moved by: Al Fisher; seconded by: James Long
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
6. Closing of Meeting
A. Adjournment
The Board scheduled a budget work session for June 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Motion to adjourn.
Moved by: Chip Williams; seconded by: Al Fisher
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
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Board Clerk - E. Luttrell Tadlock