PURCELLVILLE, Va. — The Town Council meeting scheduled for today, February 24, 2026, has been canceled due to a lack of quorum. According to the town’s announcement, agenda items originally slated for discussion will be rescheduled for a later date and evaluated for inclusion in future agendas.
The council meeting was canceled due to the absence of sufficient members. Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Vice Mayor Carl Ben Nett, Council Member Khalil, and Council Member Carol Luke were unable to attend. Two of these members are currently out sick, while the other two are traveling. Consequently, the council lacks the necessary participation to proceed with the meeting.
This cancellation comes at a critical time, as it affects the ongoing budget season, which requires timely discussions and approvals from the council. Staff had informed council members in the previous meeting that this final session was crucial for adopting the personal property tax rates for the county. If no vote is taken by Loudoun County’s February 28th deadline the current rates will remain unchanged from the previous year.
A public hearing was held on February 10th to gather feedback on the proposed personal property tax rate of $1.25 per $100 of assessed value. To maintain revenue neutrality, a 20-cent tax increase from the current $1.05 is necessary. The elimination of the vehicle license fee has resulted in a revenue loss of $181,000.
The Town Council’s agenda items that are currently delayed include the approval of a budget amendment for the Interim Town Manager’s salary for 90 days, amounting to $49,789. Additionally, there are appointments to committees, commissions, and boards, as well as a vote to rescind the tourism zone. Lastly, there is a budget amendment for the water treatment plant.
A closed session was included on the agenda for the interim town manager’s contract. A motion to extend Tony Sabio’s contract indefinitely failed to gain a majority vote during last the last Council meeting.
Additionally, this cancellation marks the final Town Council meeting before the upcoming Netts recall case, set to begin on March 2 and extending through March 4.
Stay tuned to Purcellville News for the latest news and updates.