Board Meeting Notes

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At the top of of its March 11, 2025, meeting the Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation declaring March 2025 as American Red Cross Month in the County of Roanoke. The proclamation recognizes the Red Cross and its volunteers for their efforts in donating blood, assisting those affected by disasters, and strengthening our community by offering classes that save lives.

Pictured: Jackie Grant, Executive Director of The American Red Cross of Southwest Virginia, accepted the proclamation from Board of Supervisors Chairman David Radford.

The Board of Supervisors also received a briefing from Roanoke Regional Partnership Executive Director John Hull. Hull spoke about the partnership’s strategic priorities, and recent successes in the region, including announcements of 390 new job for the area and an estimated $161.5 million in capital investment by local businesses. Hull also explained how the Roanoke Region currently outpaces Northern Virginia, the state, and national averages for employment growth.

The Board of Supervisors moved on the hear the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $46,560,000 General Obligation School Bonds of the County of Roanoke, Virginia, to be sold through the Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA).  VPSA loans are a part of the financing strategy, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and Schools regarding Joint Capital Funding as approved by resolution by the Board of Supervisors on April 11, 2023 and amended on August 6, 2024 to construct a new Roanoke County Career and Technology Center (RCCTC).

The estimated total project costs for the new RCCTC is approximately $79.97 million, with $4.10 million funded with cash, $4.31 in Virginia Department of Education School Construction grants, $25 million in Virginia Board of Education Literary loan fund, and $46.560 million to be funded with bonds issued through the Virginia Public School Authority. The second reading of this measure is scheduled for March 25, 2025.

The Board also heard the first reading of an ordinance to allow the transfer of certain funds between categories within the Roanoke County Public Schools 2024-2025 budget and to appropriate $191,524 in new funding. The County Board of Supervisors approves the School Board budget by categories.

The School Board has directly received funds in the amount of $191,524 from Avis Construction Company, Inc. (as a refund for a prior fiscal year overbilling), which funds have not yet been appropriated to the Schools’ budget. Additionally, the School Board has requested that the Board approve transfers of funds between budget categories as follows:

• Transfer of $1,000,000 from the instructional category to the non-categorical spending category.
• Appropriates funds in the amount of $191,524 to the facilities category.
• Authorizes the transfer of $20,000 from the facilities category to the administration, attendance, and health category
• Authorizes the transfer of $300,000 from the facilities category to the technology category.
• Authorizes any additional transfers and / or budget adjustments required by Roanoke County Public Schools accounting procedures necessary to accomplish the actions authorized in 1-4 above.

The second reading of this measure for Roanoke County Public Schools is scheduled for March 25, 2025.

The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing, per the Code of Virginia, 58.1-3321, when any annual reassessment (in the County of Roanoke) of real property would result in an increase of one percent or more in the total real property tax levies excluding new construction, a calculation known as the "effective tax rate increase" is required to be completed. The County of Roanoke's real property assessments, excluding new construction, increased by 6.97% over the previous year. Therefore, per State Code, the County must calculate the effective tax rate increase, advertise the effective tax rate increase, and conduct a public hearing pertaining to the effective tax rate increase. Three citizens spoke during the public hearing.

Consent Agenda

The Board approved the following items within its consent agenda in the form of one resolution:

• Approval of minutes – February 25, 2025;
• An ordinance authorizing the execution of a lease agreement with .Com Properties IV, LLC for thirty-five (35) parking spaces located at 210 South Colorado Street, Salem, Virginia. (Second Reading).

Work Sessions

The Board of Supervisors moved to a work session with staff to discuss Opioid Abatement Authority Spring 2025 Grant Applications. The Board also held a work session to discuss the County’s exploration and implementation of AI based systems. 

Closed Session

The Board of Supervisors held a closed meeting, per Section 2.2-3711(A)(5) of the Code of Virginia, for discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. Specifically, the Board will discuss potential business location or expansion in the Catawba Magisterial District.

For More Information

More information on each of these items, contact the Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board of Supervisors, or call 540-772-2005.