Purcellville, VA – On April 7, 2026, the Purcellville Town Council convened for a special meeting addressing two significant agenda items. The meeting included a closed session to discuss a potential offer from Loudoun County to purchase the Town’s interest in a jointly owned property. Following this session, public discussions were paused, and a future public hearing will be required to address the sale or disposal of any Town-owned property.
After the closed meeting, the Council turned its focus to evaluating the proposed budget for FY 27, presented by the interim Town Manager, Tony Sabio. Members of the Council engaged in a question-and-answer session to further assess the budget’s details.
One of the primary concerns highlighted during the budget evaluation was the anticipated challenges regarding water and wastewater revenue. Council members were informed that discussions between Loudoun County and the Town are ongoing regarding the ability of Purcellville to handle the wastewater needs of the forthcoming Western Recreational Center. The analysis of pump stations and line sizes is crucial, as securing this service could provide essential revenue for the utility fund.
Interim Town Manager Sabio outlined critical funding requirements, which include the approval of 5.6 employee positions. Many of these roles had been previously frozen, such as a police officer, maintenance technician, facility maintenance technician/planning code enforcement, and utility department compliance and lab technicians.
Liz Krens, Director of Finance, reported that the finance department is actively exploring improvements in efficiency through automation and technological upgrades. However, concerns were raised by Council Members Rayner and Wright about the risk of burnout within the financial team, noting that over 900 hours of overtime were logged last year alone. As FY 27 begins with new contracts, accounting regulations, and capital improvement projects, further staffing needs may arise.
Summer Wilkes, the Director of Planning and Community Development, stressed the necessity for a new transportation study, the last of which was conducted in 2009. With Loudoun County currently updating their plans, Wilkes emphasized the need for Purcellville to present its priorities. “Having outdated information or data puts us further behind in our interactions with Loudoun County,” she cautioned.
Additionally, Wilkes discussed the advantages of creating a Downtown Master Plan to facilitate development in the 21st Street area. This collaborative initiative would involve engaging various stakeholders to address retail, utility, transportation, and parking requirements in the area.
As the meeting concluded, Council Members suggested adjustments to the proposed budget. Notably, Council Member Rayner recommended increasing attorney expenses by $50,000 due to current legal demands. Rayner and Wright proposed reducing the planned meals tax increase from 6% to the existing 5% for the FY 27 budget, stating that elevating the tax would unduly burden local businesses. While this adjustment would lead to a deficit of $656,000 in the proposed budget, a straw vote showed a consensus against the meals tax hike.
To address this shortfall, the Council plans to revisit the water and wastewater rates in a future meeting. Council Member Stought suggested reallocating the $4.3 million drawn from the General Fund reserves to cash fund the capital improvement projects, thereby lessening the burden of interest payments.
Residents interested in the financial decisions impacting Purcellville are encouraged to attend the upcoming Public Hearing on the FY 27 budget scheduled for April 14. Further discussions regarding water and wastewater rates will also take place in subsequent meetings.
