n LOUDOUN
Pg. 4 | n EDUCATION
Pg. 10 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
Pg. 13 | n OBITUARIES
Pg. 21 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
Pg. 31
CAMP GUIDE PAGES 22-25
VOL. 8, NO. 12
We’ve got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
School Board Adopts $1.67B Budget Request BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun County School Board last week added $1.4 million to its budget proposal before adopting the $1.67 billion spending plan—a 6.9% increase over the current year’s budget. The local funding transfer for the School Board’s fiscal year 2024 budget would be $1.14 billion, $75 million more than the current budget. The budget is based on a projected enrollment increase of 1% and includes the addition of 165 full-time equivalent positions and $67.5 million in compensation increases. The board adopted the budget despite a $7.4 million state shortfall over two years attributed to a calculating error by the Youngkin administration, and a state
Alexis Gustin/ Loudon Now
The School Board adopted its FY2024 budget on Feb. 2, adding $1.4 million more to Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith’s $1.67 billion proposed budget.
funding shortfall of $3.5 million for the current fiscal year, according to Chief Financial Officer Sharon Willoughby. Willoughby updated the board on the shortfall and said she was “cautiously op-
timistic” the mistake would be resolved, noting that Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 2 asked the General Assembly to use necessary resources to fix the mistake during the budget process. She noted there were
several amendments pending in the assembly that could impact expenditures. Willoughby said the division would get updated calculation tools based on those amendments from the General Assembly by Feb. 9. Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said learning of the shortfall was “definitely a huge surprise.” He said school boards from across the state were in Richmond Jan. 30 and 31 for the Virginia School Boards Association Capital Conference, not long after the error was discovered. He said it was a good opportunity for them to meet with lawmakers who either hadn’t heard about it or were vaguely aware of it. “Over the course of 36 hours in Richmond it went from confusion and BUDGET ADOPTED continues on page 42
VML: Purcellville Must Hold Special Election; Rayner, Williams File Court Challenge BY RENSS GREENE AND HANNA PAMPALONI rgreene@loudounnow.com hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Town Council’s move to appoint an unelected member to a twoyear term is likely against state law, the Virginia Municipal League advised in advance of that vote, and two members have filed a petition challenging the majority’s decision. Emails acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request to the town contradict statements by Mayor Stanley
Milan and Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut on Jan. 24 that the Virginia Municipal League had advised them an election was not necessary. And on Friday, council members Erin Rayner and Mary Jane Williams filed a lawsuit over the council majority’s refusal to hold an election. “Last week Councilwoman Williams and I made the difficult decision to file a petition for writ of mandamus with the Circuit Court of Loudoun County given the Town of Purcellville’s mayor and select members of town council’s unwillingness to hold a special election for the
recently vacated council seat required by Virginia law,” she said in a statement. “This action was taken to preserve the integrity of the Town of Purcellville and its governing body. No one is above the law, and the rule of law must be upheld. As Town Council members, we took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we intend to do just that.” The Town Council voted 4-2 Jan. 3 to appoint Ron Rise Jr. to the seat vacated by Stanley Milan when Milan was elected mayor. Rise had campaigned on a slate
with Milan and council members Carol Luke and Mary “Boo” Bennett, but did not get enough votes for a seat on council in the November election. His appointment came as a surprise even to some council members; at that meeting, Rayner questioned why the council didn’t follow the customary practice of interviewing applicants for the seat and objected that despite asking Milan who he would nominate in December, she hadn’t had a response. SPECIAL ELECTION continues on page 28
ECRWSSEDDM Permit #1374 Merrifield VA
PAID
PRESRT STD U.S. Postage