Albemarle’s Budget Should Reflect its Promises

Posted on by Rob McGinnis

This text was taken from an email alert sent out on March 11 2026. Sign up for email alerts →

The Transportation Leveraging Program provides matching funds for projects like the upcoming Fifth Street Trails project, which will replace the unsafe crossing with a bridge and all-accessible trails. Photo by Peter Krebs/PEC.

Dear Supporter,

It’s budget season in Albemarle County. This is the time that the Board of Supervisors designates, or does not designate, dollar amounts to the community’s priorities — from cultural programs to public safety. And you, residents of Albemarle County, have the ability to weigh in on what should be included in next year’s budget.

The FY 2027 proposed budget highlights several priorities that PEC supports, including connectivity, park access and climate action. We want to ensure that significant funding goes toward those and a few other items that also meet the county’s strategic goals.

Albemarle’s recent and future economic success is attributable in part to its high quality of life and commitment to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. These attract investment and are the basis for long-term prosperity for the county and its people.

PEC would like to see the following priorities more robustly funded in the FY 27 Budget:

  • Multimodal connectivity in Albemarle County, mainly via the county’s Transportation Leveraging Program, a strategic funding initiative that provides local matching funds to accelerate transportation infrastructure projects including improvements for walking, biking and public transit. *
  • The Stream Health Initiative, which protects water quality, habitat, and helps ensure a clean drinking water supply.
  • Implementation of the county’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation mode changes, energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural resource protection. 
  • The Greenways Program, which provides access to fresh air and multimodal transportation options. *
  • The Acquisition of Conservation Easements (ACE) program, which helps landowners of modest means conserve their farmland, keeping family farms, wildlife habitat and natural carbon sinks intact. *
  • Affordable housing through Housing Albemarle and other programs that allow people who work and grow up here to stay here.

* Although these items are mentioned in the draft budget, they are not funded.

Fund Albemarle’s Future

Albemarle residents were very vocal in guiding the recently adopted Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan to focus on quality, connected communities and the protection of natural resources. Every time they have been asked, residents of both Albemarle and Charlottesville have affirmed that they are willing to pay for these things. The budget should reflect that imperative.

The priorities emphasized here also align with PEC’s Strategic Plan to create stronger, more sustainable communities and to conserve and restore lands and waters across our nine-county region. 

farmland and barns with mountains in background
The ACE program and the Stream Health Initiative work to protect natural resources for the benefit of our communities. Photo by Hugh Kenny/PEC.

FY 2027 Budget Timeline

Fund Albemarle’s Future

Now is the time to encourage Albemarle County leaders to implement these programs with funding to make them a reality. View the full schedule →

Thank you!

Rob McGinnis, PLA FASLA
Senior Land Use Field Representative
Albemarle & Greene Counties
[email protected]
(434) 962-9110