Buena Vista
Hope House Gets Funding
Buena Vista City Council amended its fiscal year 2026 budget Sept. 18 to account for a $486,949 grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority that is going to the regional Hope House project. As the fiscal agent for the project, Buena Vista received the funding Sept. 8 on behalf of the city, Rockbridge County and Lexington.
Steve Bolster, Buena Vista finance director, said that an opioid settlement fund (Fund 60) has been established to account for opioid settlement revenues and expenditures. This grant revenue was not in the previously adopted FY ’26 budget, necessitating a budget amendment that Council adopted unanimously.
Tax Relief Adjusted
The income limit for elderly and disabled residents to qualify for real estate tax relief in Buena Vista has been adjusted upwards to account for inflation.
City Council Sept. 18 adopted a code text amendment that raises the gross combined income limit from $30,000 to $40,000. The income scale has been adjusted accordingly as follows: 0 to $18,000 income, 80 percent reduction; $18,001 to $25,000, 60 percent reduction; $25,001 to $32,000, 40 percent reduction; $32,001 to $40,000, 20 percent reduction. The ordinance that was adopted took effect immediately so that the changes will be reflected in the upcoming real estate tax billing cycle.
Library Board Appointment
Lee Bachman was appointed by Buena Vista City Council to the Rockbridge Regional Library board of trustees. She takes the place of Thomas Bell, who resigned in August. The term runs through June 30, 2026.
