Board To Adopt Budget Monday
Funding has been restored for Rockbridge County’s preschool program after numerous citizens contacted the county administrator’s office to object to a proposal to eliminate the funding.
The Board of Supervisors on Monday opted to restore $158,417 for the preschool program by taking this amount out of reserves for the upcoming fiscal year. The action was taken prior to the public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget.
During Monday’s public hearing, Edwina Shafer, director of the program, and teacher Maria Smith spoke of how the program is benefiting the community.
“We serve the middle people,” said Shafer, referring to those families whose incomes are too high to qualify for Head Start but who can’t afford private preschool options.
“We are so in need,” said Smith, who was accompanied by a child that attends the preschool and is receiving speech therapy through the county schools.
The supervisors agreed to restore funding for next year but indicated that the service might be offered in some different form in future years, either through the schools or some sort of partnership between the schools and a private entity.
The preschool currently serves 24 children at three different locations – Goshen, Fairfield and Effinger. Preschool classes are offered three days a week, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
By restoring the funding for the preschool, the county’s budget for next year now stands at $65,661,300. There were no additional citizen comments at Monday’s public hearing.
The real estate tax rate is slated to rise by 3 cents – from 61 cents to 64 cents per $100 valuation. Other tax rates would remain the same – $4.25 for personal property and $2.55 for machinery and tools.
County employees are to receive 3 percent pay raises, with fire and rescue personnel to get an additional 10 percent raise. Health insurance premiums are to remain unchanged. The budget includes taking $4,557,316 from reserves to be spent on capital projects.
A special meeting to adopt the budget is set for next Monday, May 5.
