[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6275241,"mediaKeyId","2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6","parentId",2775954,"title","Board trims budget requests, weighs capital cuts and ends Berkeley Group planning contract","audioSeconds",2760,"startMs",600000,"endMs",3360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6&start=600&end=3360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6/thumbnail_600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275241/Patrick-County/Virginia/Board-trims-budget-requests-weighs-capital-cuts-and-ends-Berkeley-Group-planning-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275241-6a07f05c0c42a46ae12bf8be51e76f39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151813&Signature=FDOqwGQfpHbKRJh-KE7ZstcpdRY~tqHhc9achOYpWAQ0eNL7U1F32k1AGap5EhOjgQlBD51BGspabEbcXM9~y2oXvS3jXhHz58Z0ko-3ugJZKaSoxlO39SV0BQiQKoZAF010SRffr4jd8NnzVxsidZkhrYVSPsv-jVSX7Zus8~OiRB7ZBltxDGsnn5FVIuo3zxBitC3To07HAPsEC4fDrHuEwOzIGMn~PkeO4PQFYPov64lesELWlcdr5eccFbWt~sIVRbU-jatqjXrm6kdSvOAwLnhXDEtt12noiRoSsdTBp1BOqlT3jUaCTwMMBmFML1-paWNPuB~d7tqt2IL6Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Patrick County, VA","date","2025-03-26T13:39:14.197Z","article","At a prolonged budget discussion, the Patrick County Board of Supervisors reviewed capital requests, recommended reductions and voted to end the county’s contract with the Berkeley Group. Board members estimated an operating shortfall in the range of roughly $600,000–$640,000 and debated cuts and one-time uses of reserves to close the gap.

Why it matters: The board identified a recurring operating gap that must be addressed before budget adoption. Participants discussed both recurring cuts and one-time transfers, considered impacts on county services (including jail operations), and took a formal step to stop the county’s monthly payments to an outside planning consultant.

Capital and operational items discussed: Staff reported smaller capital adjustments including a reduced estimate for an adult education building roof (reduced from a larger request to roughly $5,000 as a temporary fix), postponing purchase of a VINTRAC tractor for Ararat Dam operations for one more season while recording maintenance hours, and replacing or averaging quotes for mowers (roughly $14,500 average). The board also discussed courthouse improvements (carpet, painting), access-control work with an on-site Department of Homeland Security representative scheduled to survey county facilities, and options to install filtered water fountains to replace bottled water deliveries (staff estimated about $5,000 annual bottled-water cost).

Mountaintop Park well: The board reviewed a request to address sediment problems at a well serving Mountaintop Park; staff noted repeated filter replacements and a high estimate for drilling a new well (one line item in the packet estimated deep drilling up to 400 feet). Supervisors asked county maintenance staff to inspect the well and attempt a lower-cost remedy such as raising the pump before committing to a large capital outlay.

Berkeley Group contract termination: After planning commission input that the county’s recent comprehensive-plan resolution addressing commercial solar might remove the need for Berkeley Group to draft a new solar siting ordinance, a motion was made to terminate the Berkeley Group contract with the required notice. The board voted unanimously to give notice and end the county’s month-to-month relationship with that consultant; staff indicated termination would save about $3,600 per month for the county going forward and that the county was month-to-month with the provider.

Budget gap, reserves and consultant proposals: Staff and supervisors discussed a rough operating deficit (board members cited about $635,000). The board directed staff to add $200,000 for health insurance (see separate article) and to remove a planned $116,135 transfer to a health insurance fund by using vacancy savings this year, keeping the net new addition smaller. Supervisors also discussed keeping unassigned reserves at roughly 20% and continuing to seek revenue and spending options (including level-funding some external contributions and reassessing the Berkeley Group’s role). The board asked for a formal proposal from a financial-advising firm (Davenport was named) before the next meeting.

Vote on termination: The motion to terminate the Berkeley Group contract carried unanimously. Recorded votes for that motion were Supervisor Marshall, Supervisor Kendrick, Supervisor Perry, Supervisor Overby and the chair (name not specified).

Ending note: The board left several items for additional staff follow-up — well inspection, Department of Homeland Security access-control recommendations, a financial-advisor proposal, and a revised budget worksheet to reflect choices discussed during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Patrick County - Board of Supervisors Meeting - March 24, 2025 Part II","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors reviewed capital-budget updates and suggested program cuts to close a roughly $635,000 operating gap; they directed staff to terminate the Berkeley Group planning contract with 30 days’ notice and agreed to level-fund several contributions.","taxTitle","Patrick County, Virginia","taxId",37851,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275246,"Patrick County Public Schools present budget to supervisors; local match request declines",1540,2000000,3540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6&start=2000&end=3540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6/thumbnail_2000000.jpg","/articles/6275246/Patrick-County/Virginia/Patrick-County-Public-Schools-present-budget-to-supervisors-local-match-request-declines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275246-c78d44db6b8e72f8f883b86525a9e353/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151813&Signature=hFdW3LrEYFRBHshITCXRk8cR-Q09M6JQRNlEXN5uOGNgtbYjs6-Co1bz0zEjkTVytYo-XnbDmunSak3lhTSE-oqDg2xEscsKGg-ScL2Gda-YzHGPHcAIA-HzUO3Xf6OCBHDlvjBIuv8aZ-26MIZeUy-XYK7atmo8S8R02-d1iE05LMbrU0fox6NUMbd27JYGBQRSg-7c6Y9SDOsHCi~BUj6hfv-8Czat2S5BoFj2NUYI~cDIWq94W8xr0zoLTrGUjd4aDj0szc-vETnc0yp-7Nfsbo-L-YjWE8dXTsIqXSMEeQtffT2Bbgob6o2Io8tqH1OxndoN1XsR3z-B3Eu7Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Wood of Patrick County Public Schools presented the school division’s approved budget and outlined changes that reduce the locality’s required contribution for the coming fiscal year.

The school representative said state funding changes reduced the division’s total by nearly $650,000 and that the local share required in the county’s documents is about $229,903 less than the prior year. “By the Code of Virginia, we have to present that to the board of supervisors in March before April 1 every year,” Wood told the supervisors, noting the presentation was part of the statutory process.

Why it matters: The combination of lower state aid and changes to the required local match affects how much county general fund support the schools will seek. Wood said the division built its budget assuming a $200,000 reimbursement for school resource officers while warning the picture could change once the state budget is finalized.

Details and board questions: Wood explained the local match is determined by a composite index formula: roughly, for every $100 the school division spends that qualifies for state match the state provides about $300, and the locality covers about 25% of the total as its required local effort. He also told the board the division expects those figures to be adjusted if the state amends the budget before finalization.

No formal action: The presentation was informational and not an action item; Wood said the school division will submit any revised budget figures to the supervisors if the state budget changes.

Ending note: The board acknowledged the presentation and noted that county budget deliberations would continue while the schools await a finalized state budget.","School division officials told the Board of Supervisors the approved school budget requires less local effort this year amid state funding reductions; the board received the presentation but took no formal action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6275250,"Patrick County keeps Anthem for employee health plan; board OKs $200,000 budget increase",0,3597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6&start=3597&end=3597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775954-c51ea6adccbaf0f57659a9eece1967a6/thumbnail_3597000.jpg","/articles/6275250/Patrick-County/Virginia/Patrick-County-keeps-Anthem-for-employee-health-plan-board-OKs-200000-budget-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275250-4fd08df99cf6aeadebc6fa46ac196170/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151813&Signature=eC3RNydVvWeMSfx42cvOrhqFsfM8PtJETPSwpuu6w4~UnV0uWewJH72DLy7Mn83kK7M9b5Pkc1KLwG~5NprlDgj7zdMIsVpQC4DaUxHy0EYwKSLGZTs2e~vYIugOGBxv802VreENjYCO3Wfc7btCfMQj1a6cjDkG~LsI73QYfC3jsN0MFkynM0pOtdML24qX01jngZ1~BiAQUyx4rL0M~5ID7t0a5G8xzXUJpUi4GRz7ZpRQ1ek0udAWIJ-OK5F5e9nX3k3bkkCMJUv7SWtBN3cUg8H~H2ZVo-kGWzRv~kSGFvogkLY2UHbFyPI4Rz8o2Bau9uOn8Eq3KuG1Hz1JYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to award the county’s employee health insurance contract to Anthem and to have the county assume the full cost of the premium increase, with approximately $200,000 added to next year’s budget.

The decision followed a presentation from Sam Irvey of Innovative Solutions, who summarized an insurer request for renewal from Anthem, subsequent requests for proposals and comparative pricing from several carriers. “Our recommendation is that you go ahead and stay with Anthem this year,” Irvey said, noting Anthem’s point-of-service (POS) product would preserve employees’ existing networks and limit disruption.

Why it matters: The county’s estimated annual premium proposals shown to the board were in the roughly $2.0 million range; initial renewal pricing from Anthem had been materially higher before negotiation. County staff said employees had borne part of last year’s increase and that, if the board covered the full increase this year, the net new budget cost would be about $200,000 rather than the headline increase in premiums.

Details of the presentation and board discussion: Irvey said the county solicited bids from Anthem (with both fully insured and self-insured options), Sentara Health Plan and Jefferson Health Plan. He told the board the carriers’ proposals were broadly similar and that, after discussions with Anthem’s underwriter, Anthem trimmed its rate. Irvey also advised the board that the county’s claims experience — and broader industry claims increases, including prescription costs — were the principal drivers of the rise.

The board discussed how the increase translated to per-employee cost and enrollment. Irvey said roughly 38 employees and dependents participate in the county plan. Board members noted switching carriers frequently can be disruptive to employees and unanimously supported remaining with Anthem this year to reduce network and benefit changes.

Vote and budget treatment: A motion to award Anthem the fully insured contract for fiscal year 2025–26, to have the county assume the full premium increase and to add $200,000 to the proposed budget carried unanimously (see \"Actions\" below). Board members recorded as voting \"aye\" were Supervisor Marshall, Supervisor Kendrick, Supervisor Perry, Supervisor Overby and the chair (name not specified in the record).

What remains unsettled: The board discussed re-evaluating self-funding next year if market conditions change. Open enrollment logistics and employee communications were left to staff and the broker.

Ending note: The board approved the move to avoid disruption to employees’ provider networks and to fund the county’s portion of the increase in next year’s budget.","The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to renew a fully insured health plan with Anthem and to assume the county’s full share of the premium increase, adding about $200,000 to the proposed budget for the coming year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board trims budget requests, weighs capital cuts and ends Berkeley Group planning contract

Patrick County Public Schools present budget to supervisors; local match request declines

Patrick County keeps Anthem for employee health plan; board OKs $200,000 budget increase