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Board of Supervisors Special Meeting - April 23, 2026 Minutes
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:00 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, Finance Operations Specialist II Mary Dodson
1. Opening of Meeting
A. Call to Order
2. Public Hearings 7:00P.M.
A. Consideration of the Northumberland County School Board FY27 Budget. The public hearing is being held pursuant to Section 15.2-2506 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, allowing the public to question and comment on the proposed budget request. This request, reflects a decrease of $244,095 in local funding when compared to last year’s school budget request.
School Board Budget Ad_FY27.pdf April 23 2026 School Division Hearing
Budget .pptx
County Administrator Tadlock stated that the total School Board budget is $21,621,405 and the Board of Supervisors will not be taking any action at this time as they are required to wait 7 days after the public hearing is held per the Code of Virginia.
Finance Facilitator Dr. Pica stated that the school budget request has the lowest contribution in local funding since 2022 or earlier. Dr. Pica explained that it contains a 2% proposed salary increase, 4.5% health insurance coverage, additional funding in technology for refreshments, and contracts that have been excluded in prior budgets although they were still paid.
Public Hearing Open.
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No comments were made.
Public Hearing Closed.
3. County Administrators Items
A. FY27 Budget Update
Budget Options.docx
County Administrator Tadlock explained that Dr. Pica has been meeting with staff and department heads and several budget options are provided in the Board's packet.
Finance Facilitator Karen Pica stated that she has reviewed every line item in the budget, the justifications provided for each line item, as well as the contracts provided. The first option she presented funds everything as requested by departments and agencies with the proposed 2% salary increase ($344,000) and the 4.5% health insurance coverage ($132,000). All options include a significant increase in VRS as the VRS high option is $60,100 and the mandated VRS changes are around $243,000. Dr. Pica stated if you look at the salary increase cost, health insurance cost, and the mandated VRS changes over the course of 10 years, that's a big amount added to the County's budget. Dr. Pica made the Board aware that there are several paychecks that get issued although it does not match the number of individuals and suggested a position audit be performed.
Dr. Pica stated that the revenue figure in the budget has included reserves in the past, but she feels that the reserves is a savings account so she separated the two in her budget presentation.
The second budget proposal presented included cuts that were either agreed to by the department heads or resulted from analysis from what was spent in the past. She explained that she is not using last year's budget request as a baseline for the budget, she is using last year's expenditures.
Dr. Pica believes there were contracts that had significant increases with no justification and she found three separate contracts with the same vendor for three departments in the County. She wondered if there could be some savings there if they narrowed that down to only one contract.
The third budget option is if the County stopped doing charitable contributions and grants the way they are done now. Dr. Pica recommended separating this by setting up a fund to award charitable contributions and grants, and have the Economic Development Commission be a recipient of the application as they just developed criteria for grant applications. The EDC could grade the applications using a group of people from the County and then make award recommendations. Dr. Pica also encouraged the Board to include funding that replenishes the reserve fund by placing 2% of the budget in reserves as well as funding for a separate contingency fund and place 2% of the expenditures in that fund. Dr. Pica stated
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that the Board made it clear that they do not want to keep pulling from the reserves, but there needs to be a pot of money to resort to in emergency situations. The contingency fund will serve as this fund in the instance there is an emergency.
Dr. Pica stated that she cannot find a budget proposal that does not require a small increase in revenue at this time, so the collection needs to go up in some kind of manner.
Supervisor Long asked about the NES playground.
Dr. Pica explained that she presented the Board with options at the regular meeting on April 9, 2026 on how to use prior reimbursement funding that they found and one of the options could fund the playground.
Supervisor Long asked about the middle and high school.
Dr. Pica stated that there hasn't been a need identified there.
B. School Nutrition Audit
Purpose of School Nutrition Audit.docx
Finance Director Anne Curran brought attention to the School Nutrition budget and how it's grown over the years. She stated that they used to have a carry over at the end of the every year, and now they are starting to spend money out of that carry over as well as the new money that comes from the federal government. Dr. Curran believes there is a concern there and they want to make sure the money is being spent as efficient as possible. She requested that the Board of Supervisors authorize her to conduct an audit on the School Nutrition funds in June. Vice Chairman Williams asked how many County tax dollars go towards the Nutrition fund.
Dr. Pica stated that currently there are none, but if something doesn't change there will need to be.
Chairman Brann asked that Finance Department look at the money and not the staff.
Motion to authorize the County Finance Director to conduct an audit on the School's Nutrition funds.
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: Chip Williams
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
C. Opioid Abatement Resolution
Resolution - Approval of Settlement with Group of Six Remnant Defendants.docx
Motion to approve the resolution to participate in the proposed combined settlement agreement resolving opioid related claims against associated
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pharmacies as presented and authorize the County Administrator and County Attorney to execute the documents necessary to participate in the settlement.
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: James Long
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
D. Transfer/Supplemental Appropriation - School Capital Improvement
school well SA #2.pdf
Motion to approve a transfer of funds and a supplemental appropriation from 36- 4100-410030 to line item 10-9103-7030 in the amount of $2,916.00 to cover the invoice from Capital City Services in relation to the school well project.
Moved by: Chip Williams; seconded by: James Long
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
Chairman Brann mentioned that the Joint Finance Committee discussed the time it takes to move money between categories on the school side and it's delaying the Finance Department in getting the work done. He explained that Dr. Dave Curran is going to discuss this with the School Board and get their approval on the Board of Supervisors taking action on supplemental appropriations and transfers before the School Board to avoid delays.
Dr. Curran explained that the School Board would receive notification of the action taking place via email so they are aware of what's being done.
Vice Chairman Williams asked if this would extend beyond this budget cycle. Dr. Curran believes it would have to in order to get everything sorted out.
Motion to allow the Board of Supervisors to hear and take action on school division transfers and supplemental appropriations prior to School Board action; however, notification will be required to be sent to the School Board to make them aware of such action being considered by the Board of Supervisors prior to the Board of Supervisors' consideration. This action is being taken in the interest of the timing of the meetings and to meet deadlines.
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: Al Fisher
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
Chairman Brann believes there are several topics the Board needs to discuss such as funding for the NES playground, whether or not the County is going to have the School Board under quarterly appropriations again, see what County properties the Board is considering to sell, and the EDC's request in relation to potential uses for the County's property known as the poor house tract. The EDC asked that the Board respond individually on the potential uses for the poor house tract, but they would like to have a group discussion on this.
Chairman Brann asked when the County needs to have the hearing on the Capital Improvement Plan.
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Mr. Tadlock stated that will be scheduled for the regular meeting in May. The Board agreed to meet on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the NES playground funding, how the school is going to be funded this year, and the potential uses for the poor house tract property. Chairman Brann stated that they won't add any other topics to this meeting in case Mr. Tadlock needs to add something to the agenda that night.
Chairman Brann asked that Mr. Tadlock look into the audit process and bring the Board information on how the process works now and what they can do different. He believes the process needs to be looked at or that the County needs to reach out to another auditing firm to determine whether the pre-auditing process is needed.
4. Items Related to Closed Meeting
A. Convene into Closed Meeting § 2.2-3711 A(1)
Motion to Action: A. Convene into Closed Meeting: convene into closed meeting as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1);1. Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, 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.
Moved by: Chip Williams; seconded by: Keith Harris
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: Keith Harris; seconded by: Chip Williams
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:
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Aye: Keith Harris, AC Fisher, Jr., James M. Long, James W. Brann, Charles H. Williams
Moved by: Keith Harris; seconded by: Chip Williams
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
5. Closing of Meeting
A. Adjournment
Supervisor Long asked if the County contributes funding to the Little League. Mr. Tadlock stated that the County gives a contribution.
Supervisor Long would like Mr. Tadlock to reach out to the leadership of the Little League requesting them to be present at a Board meeting as he has some concerns.
Motion to adjourn.
Moved by: Chip Williams; seconded by: Keith Harris
Aye: James Long, James Brann, Chip Williams, Al Fisher, and Keith Harris
Motion Carried 5-0
Board Clerk - E. Luttrell Tadlock