March 20, 2025: Budget meetings tonight in Nelson County and Charlottesville
Plus: The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority begin construction on a key section of new infrastructure
We’re now up to the spring equinox of 2025 on this 79th day known as March 20. At least, that’s the case for those of us in the northern hemisphere. For the other half of the world, it’s the beginning of the fall. For many weeks, the production of each edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement has been assisted by the triumphant return of songbirds. I’m Sean Tubbs, and no matter how stressful things might seem, there’s always a natural world that when observed can have restorative powers.
In today’s installment:
Construction has begun on a new water line under the South Rivanna River
Nelson County Supervisors will meet with the Nelson School Board this evening
The Charlottesville City Council will have a community budget forum and the first public hearing
First shout-out: Dawn Porter to address Emily Couric Leadership Forum on April 10
On April 10, the Emily Couric Leadership Forum will award $250,000 in scholarships to area high school women in recognition of leadership excellence at its annual Luncheon at the Omni Resort in Charlottesville. They anticipate a sell out for this year’s luncheon.
This year’s speaker and recipient of the Forum’s Women’s Leadership Award is Dawn Porter, an award-winning documentary filmmaker known for her storytelling on social justice, history, and cultural icons. Her celebrated documentaries have aired on HBO, Netflix, CNN, and PBS. Many of her films elevate marginalized voices and illuminate U.S. history’s lesser-known stories.
If the event does sell out, there will be a wait-list and the event will be live-streamed!
To find out more, please visit the website at www.emilycouricleadershipforum.org
Construction begins on second water pipeline crossing the South Rivanna River
One reason for Albemarle’s long-standing growth management policy is to help determine where expensive infrastructure will be located. The county participates in the financing and construction of projects as a member of the Board of Directors for the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
This week, construction has begun on a $5.9 million project to add a new waterline traveling under the South Rivanna River.
“The South Rivanna River Crossing Pipeline Project will directly connect the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant to a water pipe near the intersection of Route 29 and Polo Grounds Road,” reads an information release sent out this afternoon.
This project is part of ongoing work to increase capacity in an urban water system expected to meet the demands of a growing population. According to the RWSA website, the crossing is part of a new 24-inch water main to connect the Hollymead Town Center to the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant.
“Two segments of this water main were constructed as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation] VDOT Rt. 29 Solutions projects, including approximately 10,000 linear feet 24-inch water main along Route 29 and 600 linear feet of 24-inch water main along the new Berkmar Drive Extension, behind the Kohl’s department store,” reads a section of an interactive map of RWSA construction projects.
Faulconer Construction Company of Charlottesville won the contract for the work which is expected to be completed in January 2027. The project was designed by Michael Baker International.
Second shout-out: Piedmont Master Gardeners seek items for Green Elephant Sale
If you are cleaning out your garage or basement this winter and have garden implements or yard ornaments you no longer need, the Piedmont Master Gardeners will take them off your hands
The Piedmont Master Gardeners are seeking donations of new and used garden tools, hoses, decorative items, outdoor furniture, and virtually anything else that can be used to maintain or enjoy a home landscape. From February 1 through April 30, these "Green Elephant" donations may be dropped off at 402 Albemarle Square between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays or Saturdays. The Master Gardeners are not able to accept plastic pots or opened chemicals.
The Green Elephants will be offered for sale to the public during PMG’s Spring Plant Sale, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Proceeds will support the many free and low-cost horticulture education programs the Piedmont Master Gardeners offer to the community.
To arrange a pickup of large items or for more information, contact the Piedmont Master Gardeners at greenelephant@piedmontmastergardeners.org.
Nelson County Supervisors to meet with School Board budget work session
Daffodils aren’t the only sign of spring. There’s also the blossoming of budgets for local governments, and today the Nelson County Board of Supervisors will meet with the Nelson County School Board to discuss the latter’s request for fiscal year 2026.
The presentation has been made available in advance and here are some pieces of information to know. View the presentation here. It’s quite thorough.
Nelson County’s projected enrollment for the 2025 academic year is 1,417
Health insurance costs are increasing 12 percent
School administrators believe that federal grants from previous years will remain stable, but there is uncertainty moving forward into the future.
Challenges include continued inflation, a difficulty finding workers, and an enrollment decline has reached the middle and high school
There is currently a projected shortfall of just over $1.6 million
Since the pandemic, the number of vacancies has increased in Virginia from a rate of 0.9 percent in the 2019 school year to 4.8 percent in 2023.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the old Board of Supervisors room at the Nelson County Courthouse in Lovingston. Supervisors will next meet on March 25.
Charlottesville City Council to hold public hearing on the FY26 budget
In the past year and a half or so, Charlottesville City Council has begun holding public hearings occasionally on Thursdays. Public hearings are usually held on Monday nights but tonight the first public hearing for the proposed budget for FY2026 is being held at a community forum in CitySpace that begins at 6 p.m. (meeting information)
In a perfect world that encourages full participation, there should be links to the materials in the meeting packet. That’s not the case for this meeting, but that’s why there is municipal journalism.
You can explore City Manager Sam Sanders’ recommended budget in this interactive website or you can download it as a .PDF. I recommend the latter because it allows you to search for specific items in the entire document.
For instance, I thought I would look up the word “homeless” and there are three references.
“A $250,000 annual payment from FY27 – FY30 has been added to the [Capital Improvement Program] to replace lost revenue to the Salvation Army to support the conversion of the Cherry Avenue Thrift Store to a low barrier homeless shelter. If a replacement location is opened during this time period, the payments from the City will terminate.” (page 14)
“The Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless has been designated a contractual agency and will begin receiving an annual operating grant of $250,000. These funds are intended to support the needs of the unhoused residing in Charlotteville city limits.” (page 14)
A summary of how American Rescue Plan Act funding was spent includes a $3 million payment to the Salvation Army for their Center of Hope program. (page 17)
There’s one reference to the word “unhoused” as follows:
“An annual subsidy of $500,000 is included in this budget to support the operations of a low barrier shelter. This will be managed as a new agreement with an outside agency. This funding is intended to support the annual operating costs of this important facility to support the needs of the unhoused.”
What words would you want to look up?
In any case, if you’re your idea of fun is not looking through budget documents, then perhaps an article is more up your alley? Here are two ones I’ve written recently.
Sanders presents City Council with FY26 budget based on no new taxes, March 10, 2025
Public notice: Charlottesville’s lowered tax rate is $0.9128 per $100 of assessed value, March 12, 2025
The public hearing on the tax rates will be on April 7, 2025. This was to have been on March 17 but was postponed due to an advertising error in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.
There have also been two budget work sessions. I’ve not yet written about either. I’m a one-person information operation in a time when the thrice-weekly newspaper no longer takes interest in municipal issues. I believe there is a tremendous need for new institutions to take their place and this newsletter is part of my attempt to help people understand how things work and what happens when there is massive change.
What happens when there is massive change? Well, we’re going to find out.
Reading material:
Fleisher announces city council run, emphasizing healthcare, Avery Davis, WVIR 29News, March 19, 2025
Charlottesville Parks and Rec completing new Master Plan, Maggie Glass, WVIR 29News, March 19, 2025
Greene County holding sixth Citizen Academy, CBS19 News, March 19, 2025
Commissioners defer action on municipal waste ordinance change, Heather Michon, Fluvanna Review, March 20, 2025
A brief explanation about #835
This is more or less a “day off” edition because I ran out of energy. Why did I run out of energy? Yesterday I socialized a lot and the older I get the more that takes out of me. I enjoyed myself, and today I had a breakfast meeting and that officially knocked me out. I tried to get something done today, and decided to go with these three.
Two of them were in today’s edition of the Fifth District Community Engagement Newsletter which I’ve produced four editions this week.
I’ll keep the chatter down at the moment because I’m very tired. I’m still calling this one edition #835 and my suspicion is the next written version will come out on Saturday. I’ve got to much to go through!
Thanks for paid subscribers for allowing this to keep going. Here’s a full Kraftwerk concert to help recharge!