By CHAD COOPER, [email protected]
The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors approved funding resolutions for Buchanan County Public Schools and the Buchanan County Public Service Authority during its June 8 meeting, authorizing a combined $11.3 million in local funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The school funding resolution provides $8.1 million in local funding for Buchanan County Public Schools. The motion was made by Knox District Supervisor Trey Adkins and seconded by North Grundy Supervisor Lee Dotson. The measure passed unanimously.
Under the resolution, the county’s local contribution will be transferred from the county operating budget to the school operating budget in 12 monthly installments of $675,000. The first payment will be made on or before July 15, 2026, with monthly payments continuing through June 15, 2027.
The board also approved a funding resolution for the Buchanan County Public Service Authority totaling $3.2 million.
Adkins made the motion to approve the PSA funding resolution and Garden District Supervisor Jeff Cooper seconded the motion.
The resolution originally called for the funds to be paid in six monthly installments of $533,333.33 beginning July 15 and continuing through Dec. 15, 2026. However, supervisors approved the funding as a one-time payment to assist the authority with current cash flow needs.
The motion passed by a 5-0-2 vote. Hurricane District Supervisor and Board Chairman Tim Hess and Prater District Supervisor David Rose abstained because they are employed by the PSA.
During discussion, South Grundy Supervisor Roger Rife asked what the problem was with the authority’s cash flow.
Hess, who also serves as PSA executive director, explained that the authority is currently involved in a sewer project along the Levisa River being completed by Hill Construction.
“Right now they are having some contract work done by Hill Construction and had a bill for $1 million that needed to be paid,” Hess said.
Hess said the project is being reimbursed through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, but reimbursement funds have not yet been received.
He explained that there is currently not enough cash flow available to pay the invoice and that the project may be completed before DEQ reimbursement funds are received.
Adkins stressed that the authority was not seeking any additional county funding.
“There not asking for any additional funding,” Adkins told Rife.
