Screenshot courtesy of Botetourt Co.
By Matt de Simone
A large crowd filled the auditorium at Lord Botetourt High School on May 13 as Botetourt County residents weighed in on the county’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and advertised tax rates during two public hearings marked by sharp disagreements over school funding, county spending priorities, and transparency in local government.
The meeting was moved from the Botetourt Center at Greenfield to the high school auditorium to accommodate the anticipated turnout as debate over the county budget and recent actions by the Board of Supervisors intensified in recent weeks.
At the center of the controversy was the board’s April decision to add funding back into the proposed budget after a budget subcommittee had spent weeks working with department heads to reduce expenditures and balance the budget without increasing advertised tax rates. The additions, including roughly $2.8 million tied largely to school funding priorities, drew criticism from some residents who argued the board undermined the subcommittee process and introduced spending based on projected future revenues.
The county’s advertised FY27 budget totals $159,082,778 in revenues and expenditures, according to Finance Director Katie Davis. The general fund accounts for $95.8 million in revenues, while the school fund totals approximately $51.4 million. Proposed tax rates remain unchanged at 70 cents per $100 of assessed value for real estate and $2.71 for personal motor vehicles.
Before public comments began, Board Chairman Dr. Mac Scothorn reminded attendees that supervisors would not respond during the hearings, prompting occasional criticism from audience members frustrated by the format.
While the hearings focused on the budget and tax rates, some residents again referenced the proposed Google Data Center project and broader concerns about county growth and infrastructure planning. Several speakers questioned future county obligations tied to water infrastructure expansion associated with the project, while others argued the debate had distracted from school funding needs.
Many comments centered on public schools, with residents sharply divided over whether the county should restore additional funding requested by Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS).
Supporters of increased school funding pointed to aging facilities, teacher retention challenges, and long-term economic benefits tied to education investment.
Student speakers drew some of the evening’s strongest reactions from the audience.
A sophomore at Lord Botetourt High School urged supervisors to follow through on the proposed increase in school funding, describing how teachers in Botetourt County changed the trajectory of her education.
“That transformation didn’t happen by accident,” the student said. “It happened because this school system has educators who were skilled enough, supported enough, and equipped enough to help students succeed.”
A fellow student credited Botetourt teachers with helping shape her academic future, including acceptance into the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School.
“Teachers have such a large impact on students,” another student noted. “They are not just teachers about core subjects, but they also help us develop skills that set us up for successful futures.”
Several residents highlighted deteriorating school facilities, particularly at Lord Botetourt High School, which opened in 1959.
One Lord Botetourt student described hearing birds inside the ceiling during PSAT testing and cited maintenance concerns in the school auditorium used for theater productions.
“At a certain point, you can’t ignore that,” this student added.
Others argued that investment in schools protects property values and supports long-term economic growth.
One comment said many residents misunderstand how school funding operates and warned against what she called misinformation surrounding the budget process.
“The school budget is large because the department is large, but a large budget does not mean an intentionally mismanaged budget,” one resident said.
But critics of the additional spending argued the county should prioritize balancing the budget with existing revenues and exercise greater fiscal restraint.
Several residents praised Supervisors Linda Rottman and Walter Michael for their work on the budget subcommittee and criticized the board’s later additions to the budget during April discussions.
A Blue Ridge District resident said the subcommittee and department heads had worked to produce a balanced budget before changes were made.
“Through their hard work … they were able to bring a balanced budget back,” the Blue Ridge man said. “But through some macro politics and controversial means, it was amended to add over $3 million back in.”
Residents repeatedly raised concerns about county debt levels, future obligations, and reliance on projected revenues tied to economic development.
Some called for independent audits of the school system and questioned whether spending increases had translated into improved outcomes.
Others warned against using anticipated future revenues from projects that are not yet operational.
“We cannot continue to think that we’re having all this Google money coming in,” one woman commented. “We don’t know if that’s going to end up happening.”
The tax rate hearing that followed drew fewer speakers, but echoed many of the same concerns. Residents largely supported the board’s decision to leave advertised tax rates unchanged while cautioning supervisors against future increases.
One comment said many county residents, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, were already struggling with rising costs.
“The taxpayers of Botetourt County are maxed out,” a Troutville resident told the board during the budget hearing, citing rising delinquency rates in real estate tax payments.
Despite divisions over spending priorities, several speakers acknowledged the difficulty of the budget process and thanked supervisors for their service.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to continue budget discussions later this month before adopting the county’s final FY27 budget.
Additionally, there were comments prepared by some residents to address the Google Data Center project during last Wednesday’s meeting. The county shared that those comments and additional comments related to the agenda and non-related items would be heard at the May 28 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
To stay up to date on the budget process and more county information, visit botetourtva.gov.
