Week Ahead for March 2, 2026: FY27 budgets to be presented in Charlottesville, Fluvanna, and Greene
Plus: Louisa Supervisors may go on record opposing redistricting amendment
I will admit to being a little distracted today by events outside of local and regional government, but my role is to make sure there is some overview of what decisions are coming up in the six localities that make up the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. I’m also settling back in at my studio after a long trip, so this is more condensed than usual.
Highlights this week:
After months of preparation, Charlottesville City Council will be presented with a proposed budget for FY2027. They’ll also learn more about how the Downtown Mall is being prepared for its 50th anniversary
Louisa Supervisors will consider a resolution urging citizens to vote no in the April 21 special election on Congressional redistricting
Greene Supervisors will hold two work sessions on the FY2027 budget this week and give approval to seek funding available through Congress
Fluvanna Supervisors will get the results of a study for new and renovated space for local government including a new administration building. They’ll also discuss potential conditions for a special use permit requested by Tenaska for a second natural gas facility in the county.
Albemarle Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the FY27 budget and will learn how the recently approved Comprehensive Plan will inform the next phase of an ongoing zoning update
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors will have a one-day meeting on Thursday
Thanks as always to the Piedmont Environmental Council for their support of this ongoing look into local and regional government.
Monday, March 2, 2026
Charlottesville City Council to be presented with recommended FY27 budget
Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall turns 50 this year and there are celebrations planned culminating in a big event on July 3. City Council will get an overview during their work session which begins at 4 p.m. in City Council Chambers. (agenda)
The 50th anniversary is being supported by Friends of Downtown Cville, the Historic Resources Committee, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Much of the work that is being done now to prepare the Mall stems from a report commissioned in 2023 that went before Council in February 2024. Take a look at that report here as well as these two C-Ville Weekly pieces:
Public space: Downtown Mall Action Plan outlines potential priorities, Catie Ratliff, May 29, 2024
Downtown Mall vacancies, foot traffic, and a debate over homelessness collide, September 10, 2025
Maintenance has been underway and the city hired the firm Block by Block to perform ambassadorial and clean-up services Wednesday through Sunday.
Get an early look at this update in the presentation.
After the presentation, Council will hear applicants for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. There is at least one vacancy according to the city’s boards and commissions page.
Some items on the consent agenda are worth noting.
There is a second reading for an additional sum of money from the Virginia Department of Transportation for a bundled project to reconfigure three intersections. (learn more in the staff report)
There is a second reading to appropriate $10 million from previous surpluses to the current year budget. $8.5 million will go to the capital contingency funds. (learn more in the staff report)
There is the first of two readings to create an incentive program for small businesses to introduce energy efficiency measures. This would be administered by the nonprofit Community Climate Collaborative. A maximum of $4,500 would be available. (learn more in the staff report)
There is a resolution to grant a $20,770.05 refund to Tiger Fuel Company due to a leak at their carwash at 601 Preston Avenue. (staff report)
There are three action items:
The first is for a change to the city ordinance for how Council can call special meetings to clear up language that makes it appear as if public notice is not required in some cases. First of two readings and you can learn more in the staff report.
The second is to declare Westhaven a revitalization area to help improve rankings in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit process. (staff report)
The third is a resolution acknowledging that the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s plans for Westhaven are smaller in scope than originally planned and clarifying that the $15 million Council has agreed to pay is only for phase one. Further funding will be requested for phase two. (staff report)
Then there will be the presentation of School Superintendent Royal Gurley’s proposed budget for FY27 followed by City Manager Sam Sanders. Materials will be posted following the event. To catch up on where things stand at the moment, read stories I’ve written in the build-up over at Information Charlottesville.
Louisa Supervisors to consider resolution opposing redistricting amendment
The seven members of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet for a budget work session at 3 p.m. followed by a closed session at 5 p.m. They go into open session at 6 p.m.
The meeting info for the work session does not include an agenda or any information at publication time. There is a budget page with more information but this blurb aims to get you what you need to know.
The Louisa County government has a chatbot, something I generally avoid interacting with but I thought I would try a question.
“Has the county administrator’s draft budget for FY2027 been published online yet?”
“I’m having trouble finding an answer. Please rephrase your question or visit the Contact Us page for help. Vote on my answer to help me learn, and note that an Open AI integration is scheduled to expand my capabilities.”
I dislike chatbots. I like talking to people or having information easy to find. I spend my time doing what I do to make it easier for you to know things by telling stories and living the experience of neatly constant research. The rush to allow computers to do the work threatens my livelihood, but paid subscriptions or a charitable gift will help me keep doing my part.
On February 17, Supervisors held the second work session on the budget and heard from outside agencies. You can review presentations from Adult Community Education to Virginia Career Works in this document. You can also review the information in the four pages of minutes which cover requests from the Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation and the Louisa Arts Center. There was also another presentation of requests for funding through the Capital Improvement Plan.
According to those minutes, the March 2 work session will include requests from Louisa County Public Schools, Fire/EMS, and the Sheriff’s Office.
In the regular meeting, there will be a recognition of a long time member of the Planning Commission.
Louisa County will join a growing number of localities considering a resolution opposing the Congressional redistricting amendment that if approved would allow Democrats to redraw the boundaries in an attempt to elect ten from their party to “restore fairness.” The resolution makes a reference to voters’ passage of an amendment in 2020 to create a bipartisan redistricting commission.
“The Commission ended partisan gerrymandering of Virginia’s legislative districts,creating compact, legally compliant, and contiguous districts,” reads the resolution.
If voters approve the gerrymander in the April 21 election and the Virginia Supreme Court determines it to be Constitutional, Louisa County would be in the 7th District.
“The proposed 7th Congressional District would include Powhatan, Goochland, Orange, Greene, Madison Culpeper Counties, and parts of Buckingham, Cumberland, Rockingham, Augusta, Fauquier, Prince William, Fairfax and Arlington Counties,” reads the resolution.
“Louisa County has little in common with some of these localities,” the document continues.
Under new business there will be a resolution to authorize a budget supplement of $171,701 to the Central Virginia Regional Jail for medical expenses incurred between July 2025 and the end of the year.
“Louisa County is required to cover such costs for county residents that are incarcerated in the CVRJ facility,” reads that resolution.
There are two public hearings. One is a State of the Station report from Dominion Energy for the Lake Anna nuclear power station. There is no information available in advance.
The other is for an environmental permit for the Louisa County Sanitary Landfill, a government-owned facility. According to the minutes from the February 17 meeting, the county is seeking permission from the Department of Environmental Quality to expand the maximum daily allowance from 75 tons to 300 tons. Deputy County Administrator Chris Coon told Supervisors that the request is being made due to increased demand and in anticipation of a future expansion of the landfill.
The public comment period is open through March 14. View the public notice here. You can also view the status of the permit through the Virginia Permit Transparency portal.
In other meetings:
The Albemarle County Electoral Board will meet at 9 a.m. in the Room C of the 5th Street County Office Building at 1600 5th Street. The purpose for the meeting is planning for the special election. You can listen via Zoom. (meeting info)
The Albemarle Fire EMS Executive Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Fire Rescue Conference Room 2 at 460 Stagecoach Road, Suite F. On the agenda are three policies including one on “membership eligibility.” (agenda)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Local government offices in Charlottesville are closed due to Freedom and Liberation Day.
“The Union Army troops, under the command of Major General Philip Sheridan, arrived in Charlottesville on March 3, 1865, liberating over 14,000 enslaved workers,” reads the Wikipedia entry for the event.
Greene Supervisors to take a look at recommended budget for FY2027
The five members of the Greene County Board of Supervisors will have a special meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Administration Building at 40 Celt Road in Stanardsville. That will be followed by the first of two budget workshops this week. (meeting agenda)
The special meeting is being held to approve four resolutions, all of which are to apply for grant funds from Congress for Community Project Funding.
The first is for three bi-directional amplifiers for Greene County Public Schools to help boost signals on campuses to assist with first responders during emergencies. (read the memo)
The second is for additional water main improvements in the Town of Stanardsville and western Greene County. (read the memo)
The third is for a heavy duty lift vehicle for a maintenance facility. No memo for this one.
The fourth is to submit the renovation of the old EMS building. Also no memo.
The budget is not yet available for review. Here is the link to where to go for previous versions.
In other meetings:
The Albemarle Board of Zoning Appeals will hold their organizational meeting at 2 p.m. in Lane Auditorium in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info)
The Charlottesville Tree Commission is scheduled to meet at the Parks and Recreation Office at 501 East Main Street. There’s no advance material. And, isn’t city government closed? (meeting info)
Dominion Energy will have an information meeting on a rebuild project for a 230 kilovolt transmission line between Gordonsville and Charlottesville. This will happen at the Courtyard Marriott Charlottesville University Medical Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Read a recent story I wrote to learn more.
The Community Development Block Grant / HOME Task Force will meet at 6 p.m. in City Space. This is the group that reviews applications for one pot of federal funding. (meeting info)
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Albemarle Supervisors to preview zoning changes to streamline development, hold public hearing on FY27 budget
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors has several additional meetings this month related to the budget as well as a series of town hall meetings. But their first regular meeting for March begins at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info) (agenda)
The first item on the agenda is a work session on what priorities Community Development staff should focus on for zoning modernization related to Comprehensive Plan goals. Supervisors adopted AC44 last October.
Of the 378 total actions in the implementation chapter, 37 actions have direct implications for zoning regulations,” reads the staff report for the discussion.
Here are the materials for the discussion:
Missing from the engagement plan are neighborhood associations and the Community Advisory Committees. These groups tend to be more skeptical of new development and currently exercise their voice at public hearings.
Let’s take a look at one of the prioritized actions:
“Update the Zoning Ordinance to allow, by right and encourage the construction of innovative housing types and creative infill development, prioritizing increased density in the Development Areas and building ‘up instead of out’ to preserve environmental features/open space.”
Would modernization seek to eliminate the role the public plays in making decisions? How would the Windy Knoll development in Crozet play out, for instance? The Planning Commission recently balked at an 18-unit development that had 14 apartments clustered on about an acre of the property.
After this discussion will be a presentation on Smart Scale applications for this year’s cycle. Here is the tentative list:
Barracks Road & US 29 SB/US 250 WB On-ramp – This project will construct several modifications on Barracks Road at the western approach to the interchange with US 29 / US 250
US 250 & Old Trail Roundabout – This project will construct a roundabout at the intersection of US 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) at Old Trail Drive with crosswalks and pedestrian connections
US 250 & Canterbury Road Roundabout – This project will convert the signalized intersection of US 250 (Ivy Road) and Canterbury Road / Old Garth Road to a roundabout
US 250 & Boar’s Head Roundabout — This project will convert the unsignalized intersection of US 250 (Ivy Road) and Boar’s Head Drive / Colridge Drive to a roundabout
US 29 NB/US 250 EB Off-ramp improvements at Barracks Road - This project will construct several modifications to the US 29 / US 250 interchange with Barracks Road (MPO submission)
I-64 and 5th Street Diverging Diamond Interchange and Pedestrian Connections – This project will construct modifications to the interchange of I-64 Exit 120 at 5th Street (MPO submission)
US 29 Southbound at I-64 Exit 118 – This project will construct modifications at the interchange of I-64 Exit 118 at US 29 (MPO submission)
US 29 SB/US 250 WB Off-ramp extension at Ivy Road – This project will extend the length of the deceleration lane on southbound US 29 / westbound US 250 to the offramp to Route 601 (Old Ivy Road) (MPO submission)
US 29 NB/US 250 EB On-ramp extension at Ivy Road – This project will extend the length of the acceleration lane from the on-ramp at Old Ivy Road onto northbound US 29 / eastbound US 250.
In the evening session beginning at 6 p.m. there will be a public hearing on County Executive Jeffrey Richardson’s recommended budget for FY27. To learn more about what is in it, take a look at this story I wrote last week.
There are several items on the consent agenda worth a look. These are for approval and their placement on the consent agenda means they will not be discussed unless a member of the Board decides to pull them for discussion.
There is a list of proposed projects to be funded through the Affordable Housing Investment Fund. I’ll have a deeper preview in the newsletter before Wednesday. (staff report)
The Piedmont Housing Alliance wants the Albemarle Board of Supervisors to declare a portion of the Premier Circle as a revitalization area to assist with an application for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. This would be next to SupportWorksVA’s Vista29 project. (staff report)
There is a special exception request for a homestay at 1015 Taylors Gap Road (staff report)
There is a special exception request for a by-right solar facility seeking to be allowed to disturb more than ten acres. (staff report)
The Virginia Department of Transportation has a monthly summary to review. (take a look)
There is a list of appropriations for FY2026 including $46,233 from the Eastern Federal Lands Access Program to pay for a new trailhead and parking area at Sugar Hollow Reservoir. (take a look)
Fluvanna Supervisors to review concept plans for new county administration building
The five members of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. for a regular meeting followed by a budget work session at 7 p.m. Both are in the Circuit Courtroom in the Fluvanna Courts Building. (meeting packet)
There will be four presentations to begin the meeting.
The first is a quarterly report from the Virginia Department of Transportation from the Louisa Residency. You can take a look in advance here. One item to be mentioned are two exceptions being sought as part of Project Hoops, an as-yet-unannounced economic development project.
The second is a government facility study from Enteros Design intended to come up with a plan to increase office space. The charge was to examine possibilities for a new county administration building and a social services building at Commons Boulevard. You can read the study in advance here.
The third is on an evaluation by Dewberry Engineering of extending water and sewer to Pleasant Grove Park and Commons Boulevard. That can be retrieved here.
The fourth is a review of conditions for the special use permit for Tenaska’s proposed second natural gas power plant. The Planning Commission has recommended denial and the Board of Supervisors will have their vote on March 18. (Click here for the staff report)
There are no public hearings but the consent agenda has one item that jumped out at me. Supervisors will vote to appropriate funds to the Economic Development office for tourism purposes. The funding comes from the transient occupancy tax levied in October 2023 at a rate of five percent.
“In FY25 the County received $34,564.14 in Transient Occupancy Tax, which represents the 5 percent collected,” reads the staff report.
The budget work session will include a review of the Capital Improvement Plan as well as a discussion of the overall budget. They’ll also vote on a resolution of tax rates to advertise for the public hearing. Read that resolution here.
In other meetings:
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will have a continued meeting at 5 p.m. at the Nelson County Courthouse. There is no agenda posted at publication time. (calendar item)
Thursday, March 5, 2026
UVA Board of Commissioner to hold one-day meeting
New Board of Visitors, new schedule. The governing body of the region’s largest employer will meet in the afternoon. The Health System Board meets in the morning at the Boar’s Head Inn and that will not be live-streamed
The BOV itself begins at 12:30 p.m. with a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee followed by a meeting of the full Board. These both take place in the Board Room in the Rotunda and will be live-streamed. More on what the B&G Committee will talk about as this week develops.
There will be no Academic and Student Life Committee, no Advancement Committee, and no Finance Committee. (agenda)
TDJPC to meet
The Board of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission meets at 7 p.m. at a new location — the Helix Computer Systems Conference Room at 2401 Hydraulic Road.
The main items on the agenda are an update on the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative and a draft presentation on the FY27 work program for rural transportation.
There will also be an update of the memorandum of understanding for the TJPDC Corporation, a separate entity. (meeting info)
Charlottesville City Council to hold budget work session
The City Council will begin their deliberations on the proposed FY2027 budget at a work session taking place in CitySpace at 6 p.m. This one will be on revenues and expenses and will likely be a time when Councilors will be asked what tax rates they want to advertise for public hearing. Take a look at the agenda here.
In other meetings:
The Charlottesville and Albemarle Community Project Management Team will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 231 of the County Office Building at 1600 5th Street Extended. (agenda)
The Greene County Board of Supervisors will have a second budget work session at 4:30 p.m. There will be presentations from Water and Sewer, Social Services, and Emergency Services. (agenda)
The Charlottesville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advocacy Committee will meet at 5 p.m. at a location not listed in the meeting info. There’s no agenda. (meeting info)
The Charlottesville Human Rights Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the Parks and Recreation Conference Room at 501 East Main Street. They’ll go through a recent survey and work on their 2026 plan. (agenda)
The Albemarle Natural Heritage Committee will meet at 5:45 p.m. in Albemarle’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. On the agenda is a proclamation for International Dark Sky Week and updates on biosolids, deer culling, and biophilic cities. (agenda)
Friday, March 6, 2026
The Fluvanna County Electoral Board will meet at 10 a.m. in the Registrar’s Office at 265 Turkeysag Trail, Suite 115. (meeting info)