Coraggio Consulting
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Budget Public Hearing (Session II), Thursday, February 26, 2026

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Place: Board Room, First Floor, Government Center, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, Virginia
Length: 1h 5m (video)
Official meeting video (county, Granicus): https://loudoun.granicus.com/player/clip/8127
Meeting page (Granicus): https://loudoun.granicus.com/player/clip/8127

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-10. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:00] 2025 Loudoun County Board of Supervisors budget public hearing. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, switch your hearing aids to telecoil mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please see the clerk to request one. This public hearing is to allow members of the public to address the board on the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027, which is the FY27 proposed budget and the proposed tax rates on real and personal property for tax year 2026 beginning january 1st 2026

[00:00:36] and ending december 31st 2026. there are three sessions for comment on the proposed budget any members of the public may address the board at only one session members of the public wishing to speak at this public hearing and have not already done so please sign up with the clerk to my left all members of the public who have signed up to speak will be allotted up to two minutes if you are in the boardroom we ask when your name is called please come to the podium and state your name for the record the timer on the podium will indicate your remaining time when your time has expired please yield the floor to the next speaker per the board's rules of order when a member of the public is providing comment in a language other than english and chooses to

[00:01:15] use an interpreter the member of the public and the interpreter will each have up to two minutes to address the board if you are providing your comments via phone i ask that you use a stopwatch to track your time i will monitor your time in the boardroom as well and notify you when your time is expired when taking public input i will first ask if there is anyone in the boardroom wishing to speak and then i will go to the moderator andy torres and ask if there are any speakers online please note that there is a slight delay between the broadcast and the board room although not all board members are able to attend as you can see the board members have assured their colleagues that they will review the video recordings of the budget public hearings

[00:01:55] and listen to the public comments on the budget with that we will get started please join me in the pledge of allegiance pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you all our first speaker is tanya adkins followed by guy tessier followed by isaac

[00:02:28] Pacheco. Good evening and thank you Board of Supervisors. Good evening. My name is Dr. Tanya Adkins. I serve as the CEO of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, the federally qualified health center providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care to over 9,000 Loudoun County residents.

[00:02:46] Earlier this week I had the pleasure of being in Richmond meeting with some legislators to discuss funding with the CEOs of the 31 federally qualified health centers in Virginia. When asked how many centers are supported by their local jurisdictions. I was one of three centers who raised their hand in support. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for the financial support you provide to ensure that the most loud and vulnerable Loudoun residents get the quality health care they deserve. I'm extremely grateful. I'm speaking tonight though as the vice chair of the Loudoun Human Services Network because I want to share the impact that the

[00:03:23] nonprofit organizations represented by LHSN have on our patients. Without the multitude of services that Loudoun County nonprofits provide, our patients would be ill-equipped to seek medical care. Food, shelter, and transportation are all barriers to receiving health care, and the interconnectedness of this network is an amazing resource for which this county should be very proud. I appreciate the financial support that you provide to the nonprofit community to make this possible. I want to highlight one of the greatest challenges we face in providing health care to our patients, homelessness or near homelessness. While the number of unhoused

[00:04:01] in Loudoun County is fewer than other localities, no one should go without shelter in a county as well-resourced as Loudoun. The numbers begin to increase when you consider those who are near homeless. These are the people who couch surf daily, weekly, or monthly, often with their entire family to remain sheltered. It is these patients who have the lowest medical compliance because every day they are forced to decide whether to buy food or medicine and food always wins i applaud your efforts to provide permanent affordable housing but i ask that you consider closing any gaps for those who are unhoused or nearly unhoused thank you so much thank you doctor next up guy

[00:04:38] tessier followed by isaac pacheco followed by samantha clark good evening guy tessier a few weeks ago the lcso presented alarming figures about the increase in elementary school shooting incidents to make the case for SROs there, but key context was left out. One, if you Google, is most of the increase in elementary school shootings over the last 10 years in cities or suburbs? The answer you get from the US GAO is the majority of school shootings, including those affecting elementary schools, occur more often in urban, higher poverty, and racially diverse schools.

[00:05:16] While mass shootings often occur in suburban or rural areas, everyday gun violence causing the increase in incidence is concentrated in city environments. Two, if you google what states are responsible for most of the increase in school shootings over the last 15 years, you get Georgia and Florida have experienced significant increases in school shooting exposure rates in recent years.

[00:05:40] We usually hear that promoting safe storage of firearms only hurts law-abiding citizens and not criminals, but if most of the incremental elementary school shootings are being done by children that implies that more children are becoming criminals how does that happen from a study by trauma surgeons at the university of arizona that addresses how children gain access to firearms quote policymakers need to address these issues by focusing on improving knowledge of secure firearm storage amongst parents educating the school community about potential risks and engaging in programs and policy discussions concerning strategies to limit youth access to

[00:06:20] guns. I could not find anything on the LCSO website that addresses safe storage when there are children present in a house with guns. This seems like a glaring omission towards saving lives. If the LCSO ignores the urging by trauma surgeons and won't advocate for secure storage, that can inform your decision to the funding request for SROs in elementary schools. By pushing for SROs in elementary schools, the LCSO is solving a gun problem with more guns at a big cost instead of promoting safe storage at low or no cost. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is

[00:06:55] Isaac Pacheco, followed by Samantha Clark, followed by Julia Jarvis. Good evening. My name is Isaac Pacheco, and I'm honored to serve as vice mayor of the town of Roundhill. I want to begin this evening by thanking this board for its consistent and meaningful support of our community. Through the recent advocacy of Supervisor Kirshner, Chair Randall, as well as the sustained engagement of administrator Hem Street over the years, Round Hill has been better positioned to serve its Loudoun County residents with safer and more accessible pedestrian connections, clean and reliable water service, and long overdue infrastructure improvements. What's especially

[00:07:35] important to note is that the county's investments benefit far more than just the residents who live within Round Hill's town limits. The vast majority of Round Hill's community actually resides outside those formal boundaries, and I emphasize the word formal because in daily life, those lines on a map are largely invisible. To those of us who live there, Round Hill is one community. Town residents and our joint land management areas don't live in separate bubbles. We experience shared lives.

[00:08:00] Our children attend the same schools. We worship in the same congregations. We support the same local organizations. We celebrate milestones and we grieve losses together. That lived reality is far stronger than any administrative distinction. Western Loudoun may have a smaller population and a more rural character, but we are fully invested in the success of this entire county. Our residents patronized businesses in the eastern part of Loudoun participate in countywide activities and use sports, we contribute to the broader civic and economic life of this community. At the same time, we're proud to welcome our eastern neighbors westward to enjoy the county's natural beauty, historic towns, and variety of recreation opportunities set against the majestic Blue Ridge.

[00:08:40] Loudoun County's strength lies in its diversity of places and people, but also in its unity of purpose. From Ashburn to Round Hill, we are one county, one community, and one shared future. It's in that spirit of community that I'm here this evening to say thank you and to encourage continued partnership, specifically your financial support of Round Hill's utility system, so that we can reliably serve all of our Loudoun residents who depend upon it.

[00:09:04] Thank you for your leadership and for recognizing that when towns like Round Hill thrive, our entire county is stronger. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Next up is Samantha Clark, followed by Julia Jarvis, followed by Edek Aleman. Good evening.

[00:09:22] Good evening. My name is Samantha Clark. I serve as the secretary of the Loudoun Human Services Network and I'm also the CEO of Laws. I'm speaking tonight on behalf of LHSN and our nonprofit membership, the community-based organizations that partner with Loudoun County to ensure residents can access safety, stability, and essential supports.

[00:09:41] First, thank you for proposing a 3% increase to the nonprofit grant program. That investment matters because for many Loudoun residents, these services are the difference between staying safe having care, and falling through the cracks. At the same time, I want to respectfully flag a concern raised by our network. The county recently increased the maximum grant program request from $113,000 to $135,000. The higher ceiling may help some organizations, but if the overall funding pool doesn't rise accordingly, it could unintentionally

[00:10:19] mean fewer nonprofits funded and fewer services available across the county. LHSN asks, that you share or conduct an analysis of this change. And if it risks defunding our organizations, please increase the total pool or reconsider that ceiling.

[00:10:37] Second, we are very grateful for the one-time $5 million community investment through the Community Foundation here. Those funds are already at work in our community, including at laws where we are supporting survivors' access to safe housing after leaving shelter.

[00:10:54] But one-time dollars cannot replace the ongoing operational support that the grant program and core services funding provide that keep non-profit doors open every day in this community. Finally, I want to underscore the gap in housing resources, especially permanent supportive housing for people with serious mental health needs.

[00:11:13] We urge the board and the administration to prioritize additional funding resources to our most vulnerable neighbors who need stable housing. On behalf of LHSN and our nonprofits, thank you greatly for your leadership and partnership with the nonprofits in Loudoun.

[00:11:30] Thank you very much. Thank you. Next up is Julia Jarvis, followed by Edick Aleman, followed by Bessie Andino. Hi, I'm Julia Jarvis. Nice to be here again.

[00:11:48] Let's talk about school resource officers. Two years ago, the Virginia School Safety Survey, which Sheriff Chapman himself cited in his SRO expansion report, schools supplied a list of resources they said would address safety issues, a list that they said came first, before additional law enforcement officers.

[00:12:13] That list included mental health resources, counselors, professional development and training, more cameras and updating of the current camera system, funding, building upgrades, and community partnerships.

[00:12:30] Regrettably, resources are always finite when it comes to education. Let's put community money where schools know they need it. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Eric Aleman with an interpreter, and next following that will be Bessie Andino, followed by Carmen Maria Andino.

[00:12:51] And you'll each have two minutes.

[00:13:28] después de las escuelas. Gracias por apoyar esta iniciativa. Hoy estos programas son una realidad y están beneficiando directamente a nuestras familias. Nuestros hijos desarrollan habilidades, mejoran académicamente y se mantienen en un ambiente positivo y seguro.

[00:13:50] Sin embargo, esos fondos solo están garantizados por dos años y terminan en diciembre del 2027. Las escuelas ya tienen listas de espera. Necesitamos expandir estos programas, no limitarlos. Hoy estoy aquí preocupada como madre y como miembro de esta comunidad por la propuesta del sheriff de invertir más de 6.5 millones de dólares al año en más policías para las escuelas elementarias.

[00:14:22] Nuestras escuelas ya cuentan con SRO asignados. No creemos que más policías sean la solución. In this moment, many families live with fear due to the implementation of policies like the 287G, where local forces collaborate with ICE.

[00:14:42] The presence of more policemen doesn't make our children feel safer in their schools. What really strengthens our students is the investment in education, in programas después de las escuelas.

[00:14:57] En vivienda con apoyo de vales para apoyar en la renta a sus familias. Merecemos que ese presupuesto se invierta en soluciones reales que construyan oportunidades. Gracias. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:15:13] Good afternoon. My name is Edith. I'm a leader with La Nueva Mayoría de Virginia and a mother. I have two children who attend schools in Sterling area And as a mother involved in my children's education, I've been fighting for the real need of our students.

[00:15:30] After more than two years of effort and community organizing, we succeeded in getting a budget approved for free after-school programs. Thank you for supporting this initiative. Today those programs are a reality and are directly benefiting our families.

[00:15:47] children are developing skills, improving academically and staying in a positive and safe environment. However, those funds are only guaranteed for two years and will end in December 2027. Schools already have waiting lists. We need to expand these programs, not limit them. Today I'm here concerned as a mother and a member of this community after the sheriff's proposal to invest more than 6.5 million per year in additional police officers for elementary schools. Our schools already have an assigned SROs. We do not believe

[00:16:27] that more police officers are the solution. At this moment, many families are living in fear due to the implementation of policies such as 287G, where local law enforcement collaborates with ICE. The presence of more police officers does not make our children feel safer in their schools what truly strengthens our students is investing the budget in education in after-school programs and in housing support such as a rental vouchers to help families support rent we deserve for that budget to

[00:17:04] be invested in real solutions that build opportunities not fear thank you thank you Next up is Bessie Andino with an interpreter.

[00:17:42] y de alcance inmediato, dejó a estas familias sin opciones viables, generando pérdidas de estabilidad, redes comunitarias y continuidad escolar. Un programa de vales de vivienda local permitiría al condado actuar de manera preventiva ante situaciones similares.

[00:18:04] Este mecanismo ofrecería apoyo temporal y dirigido para las familias afectadas por aumento de rentas, cierres de comunidades o urbanizaciones que puedan permanecer aquí en London.

[00:18:20] Además, fortalecería la capacidad del Departamento de Viviendas para intervenir rápidamente y reducir el desplazamiento forzado y preservar la diversidad económica del condado. Y muchas gracias por su apoyo y les agradecemos mucho.

[00:18:39] Good afternoon, members of the Board of Supervisors. My name is Bessie Tejada. The displacement of 86 families from the mobile home park in London, families who could not find any housing alternatives within the county, despite their deep roots and economic contributions, reveals a critical gap in our local capacity to respond to housing emergencies.

[00:19:08] The lack of flexible immediate response tools left these families without viable options, causing the loss of stability, community networks, and school continuity. A local housing voucher program would allow the county to act proactively in similar situations.

[00:19:29] This type of program would provide temporary targeted support to that families affected by rent increases, community closures, or redevelopment projects that remain in London. It also strengthened the Department of Housing abilities to intervene quickly, reduce forced displacement, and preserve the county economy diversity.

[00:19:54] Thank you for your support. Thank you. Next up is Carmen Maria Andino, followed by Mubia Mnadek, followed by Jefferson Rivas. Buenas noches, Junta de Supervisores. Mi nombre es Carmen.

[00:20:15] Pagamos más del 70% de nuestros ingresos solo en reta después de cubrir algunos alquileres. Casi no queda dinero para comidas, transporte, medicinas o emergencias. Vivimos al día siempre con el miedo de que un aumento más nos deje sin hogar.

[00:20:33] No es sostenible que las familias que trabajan tiempos completos tengan que elegir entre pagar las rentas o cubrir necesidades básicas. Las familias que ganan menos del 40% están viviendo al límite, sin estabilidad y oportunidad de avanzar.

[00:20:52] Por eso hoy les pedimos que apoyen las inversiones de 17 millones de dólares para un programa que valen de viviendas locales. no estamos pidiendo lujos estamos pidiendo la oportunidad de vivir con dignidad y en lugar donde trabajamos pagamos impuestos y contribuimos todos los días viviendas serían las diferencias entre estabilidad y es plata salas a miento para miles de familias en londos necesitamos entre programas necesitamos estabilidad y se necesitamos un Gracias.

[00:21:30] Gracias. Good evening, members of the Board of Supervisors. My name is Carmen. We pay more than 70% of our income just on rent. After covering the rent, there is almost no money left for food, transportation, medicine, or emergencies.

[00:21:47] We live day by day, always afraid that one more rent increase could leave us without a home. It is not sustainable for full-time working families to have to choose between paying rent and meeting basic needs. Families earning below 40% of the MII are living at the breaking point without stability and without opportunities to move forward.

[00:22:11] That is why today we're asking you to support the $17 million investment in a local housing voucher program. We're not asking for luxury, we're asking for the chance to live with dignity in the place where we work, pay taxes, and contribute every day.

[00:22:28] A local housing voucher would be the difference between stability and displacement for thousands of families in London. We need this program. We need stability. We need a safe home. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Mubia Mnendek, followed by Jefferson Rivas, followed by Elder Lopez.

[00:22:51] Buenas tardes, mi nombre es Nubia Méndez, vivo en Lisbeth Apartments desde hace 10 años y he vivido en el condado de London por 12 años. He trabajado en limpieza de casas desde que llegué a este país. Vivo con mi esposo y mi hija de 15 años.

[00:23:08] Uno de los principales desafíos que vivimos es el aumento excesivo de la renta cada año. Nosotros hemos pensado en comprar una vivienda propia, pero se nos ha hecho imposible. Y no nos queda otra opción que seguir rentando cada año que pasa. Y cada año que renovamos significa un aumento excesivo en el alquiler.

[00:23:28] Lo cual es demasiado comparado a nuestros ingresos. Nosotros aplicamos a los vales de viviendas federales. Fuimos de los que estuvimos toda una noche hasta el amanecer para poder aplicar y hasta el momento no nos han llamado. And I see a lot of families that are still waiting, because the requirements of that program are too rigorous.

[00:23:51] We are normal families, trapped between very low income and very high income for another program. That's why I'm here to ask $17 million for a program of housing housing that will be a great help for all families and that we can have a respiro with the rent.

[00:24:11] Thank you. Gracias. My name is Nubia Menendez. I have lived in Leesburg Apartments for 10 years, and I've lived in Loudoun County for 12 years. I've worked cleaning houses since I arrived in this country. I live with my husband and my 15-year-old daughter.

[00:24:30] One of the main challenges we face is the excessive rent increase every year. We have thought about buying our own home, but it has been impossible for us, and we have no other option but to continue renting. Every year that passes and every time we renew the lease, it means another excessive increase in rent, which is far too much compared to our income.

[00:24:53] We applied for federal housing vouchers. We were among those who waited outside all night until sunrise just to be able to apply. And up to this moment, we have not been called. And I know many families who are still waiting because the requirements for that program are extremely strict.

[00:25:13] We are ordinary families trapped between income that are too low for one program and too high for another. That is why I'm here today to ask for $70 million for local housing voucher program, which would be a great help for all families and allow us to finally have some relief from rent.

[00:25:33] Thank you. Gracias. Jefferson Rivas, followed by Alda Lopez, followed by Adriana Patricia. Good afternoon. - My name is Jefferson and I'm a student at school in Sterling.

[00:25:51] Today I'm here advocating for our well-being students as a Hispanic community. We believe we deserve a safer space in our school, a place where we can focus on learning and growing without fear.

[00:26:07] That is why I ask you to think about our community and us as students. The sheriff's proposal to hire more SRO police officers In school does not make us feel safer at this time. On the calendar, many students are worried about immigration issues that are affecting our families.

[00:26:25] We know that agreements like the 287G program exists where local authorities collaborate with ICE. Many families are being separated and that creates fear and distrust. The presence of more policies in schools In this context, it does not feel like a solution.

[00:26:51] Instead of investing that money in more police officers, we believe there are more urgent priorities. We need more mental health resources, such as psychologists, in schools. We need more support for free after-school programs.

[00:27:11] We need prevention programs for bullying and drug use. That is why, that is what would truly help us feel protected and supported. I ask you to take my testimony into account and invest in solutions that strengthen students and our families.

[00:27:30] We want to feel safe, respected, and valued in our schools. Thank you. Good job, Jefferson. Thank you very much. Elda Lopez, followed by Adriana Patricia, followed by Jose Tercios. Good afternoon, my name is Zelda Lopez, I'm leader of Virginia and mother of two children.

[00:27:53] Today I'm here advocating for the best of our families and for a county where our children can grow safely and with opportunities. That's why I'm in agreement with the proposal of Shell, to invest in more policing within the elementary schools.

[00:28:11] As an immigrant community, we live with the fear of being separated from our families. Lamentablemente ya no existe confianza, especialmente para cuando sabemos que hay acuerdos donde autoridades locales colaboran con ICE. Para muchas familias trabajadoras como la mía, esto no representa seguridad, representa temor.

[00:28:33] Nuestros hijos no se sienten más seguros con más presencia policial en sus escuelas. Lo que realmente necesitamos son recursos que atiendan a nuestras verdaderas necesidades. Yo rento un apartamento y recientemente recibí una carta informando un aumento del 7% en la renta.

[00:28:49] Esto significa un golpe fuerte a nuestro presupuesto familiar. Muchas familias estamos enfrentando aumentos constantemente mientras tratamos de cubrir lo básico y darle a nuestros hijos lo que se merece. Por eso creemos que ese propuesto debería invertirse en soluciones reales.

[00:29:09] Apoyo a vivienda, vales para la renta, estabilidad para familias trabajadoras y más fondos para el presupuesto escolar que permitan expandir programas gratuitos desde la escuela. Estos programas se beneficiarán directamente a nuestros hijos y les brindan oportunidad para crecer y desarrollarse.

[00:29:28] No queremos vivir con miedo ni con limitaciones. Queremos que nuestros hijos crezcan en espacios seguros con dignidad y con acceso a la oportunidad que se merecen. Gracias. Gracias. Good afternoon. My name is Elda. I'm a leader with La Nueva Mayoría de Virginia and the mother of two children.

[00:29:49] Today, I'm here advocating for the well-being of our families and for a county where children can grow up safe and with opportunities. That is why I disagree with the sheriff's proposal to invest in more police officers inside elementary schools.

[00:30:07] As an immigrant community, we live day to day with the fear of being separated from our families. Unfortunately, trust no longer exists, especially when we know there are agreements where local authorities collaborate with ICE. For many working families like mine, this does not represent safety. It represents fear.

[00:30:28] Our children would not feel safer with more police presence in their schools. What we truly need are resources that address our real needs. I rent an apartment and recently I received a letter informing me of a 7% rent increase. That means a significant blow to our family budget. Many families are facing constant increases while trying to cover basic necessities and provide our children with what they deserve. That is why we believe that budget should be invested in real solutions. Housing support such as rental vouchers, stability for working families,

[00:31:07] and more funding for the school budget to expand free after school programs. Those programs directly benefit our children and give them opportunities to grow and develop. We do not want to live in fear or with limitations.

[00:31:23] We want our children to grow up in safe spaces with dignity and with access to the opportunities they deserve. Thank you. - Thank you. Next up is Adriana Patricia Gutierrez Mora, followed by Jose Tercios, followed by Alejandra Hernandez.

[00:32:11] I'm here in the Salón de Belleza, where I win for commissions and also for independent jobs. My husband works in construction and every year when it comes to the cold season, the job is low.

[00:32:30] It diminishes, it doesn't make us in a very difficult situation to pay the rent a time. Cada vez que renovamos el contrato, aumenta significativos y si nos atrasamos, aunque sean cinco días, recibimos una cuota con un cargo de 100 pagos.

[00:33:10] Vivimos con la preocupación constante de no poder cumplir a tiempo. Hace un tiempo fuimos beneficiados por los programas de asistencia de renta y ustedes no se imaginan el alivio que eso significó para nuestra familia.

[00:33:37] I live, my name is Adriana Gutierrez, I live in Evans Ridge, where we pay $2,200 a month.

[00:34:06] I work in a beauty saloon where I earn my commission, and I also do independent work. My husband works in construction, and every year when the cold season arrives, the work slows down. That puts us in a very difficult situation to be able to pay rent on time.

[00:34:27] Every time we renew the lease, the increase is significant, and if we are even one day late, we receive a letter with a $100 late fee. We live with a constant worry of not being able to keep up. Some time ago, we were fortunate to receive rental assistance and you cannot imagine the relief that meant for our family.

[00:34:48] With an average income and my recent health issues, that support allows us to get caught up and cover some medical bills we could not ignore. For all these reasons, I'm here today to ask you to approve the 17 million budget for the Local Housing Voucher Program, this program works.

[00:35:09] This program provides stability, and this program can help many more working families like mine who only want to live with a bit of peace and dignity. Thank you. Thank you. Jose Tercios, followed by Alejandra Hernandez, followed by Olivia Moreno.

[00:35:28] Hello, my name is Allison Tercios, and I will be representing my dad, Jose Tercios. Good evening, members of the Board of Supervisors. My name is Jose, and I speak as one of the 80 families displaced from the Leesburg Mobile Home Park.

[00:35:50] My family is one of the few that managed to stay in Loudoun County, but that privilege has come at a very high cost. Today, we pay five times more for housing than before, and that focus is to work double or even triple just to be able to stay here. The extra effort means less time for our daughter and zero possibility of saving up for my future.

[00:36:13] This is why we ask that when making decisions about the county budget, you think about the working families who are struggling to remain in Loudoun. We need real investing in affordable housing, including programs like local housing vouchers, which can be the difference between stability and displacement.

[00:36:35] the families who built this community deserve the up the county deserve the opportunity to continue living here thank you for your support thank you very much next up Alejandra Hernandez followed by Olivia Moreno followed by Tomasa Valencia

[00:37:13] Entre 12,000 y 16,000 hogares ganan menos de 50,000 al año. Esto significa que miles de familias están por debajo del 40% del AMI, ingresos anuales, tratando de sobrevivir en uno de los lugares más caros del país.

[00:37:32] Para poder pagar un apartamento de dos cuartos a precio de mercado en el año 2025, una familia tendría que ganar 92,560 al año. The majority of us don't have that. Today, the 42% of the residents in London spend more than 30% of their rent and 21% more than half.

[00:37:54] And this burden cae on our Hispanic families and immigrants that face barriers to income, documentation and waiting lists. We saw clearly in the parks and mobile houses of Lisbon. Las familias pasaron de pagar 639 dólares al mes a un promedio de 2,156, con un aumento de casi 340%.

[00:38:19] La mitad tuvo que abandonar el condado y el 95% no pueden acceder a ninguno de los programas existentes. No porque no lo necesiten, sino porque las reglas actuales simplemente no los incluyen. Esta es la realidad y por eso estamos aquí hoy.

[00:38:35] Les pedimos que apoyen la inversión de 17 millones de dólares para un programa de vales de vivienda locales. No es un gasto. Es una herramienta comprobada que da estabilidad, previene desplazamientos y protege a las familias que sostienen el condado. Un vale local puede ser la diferencia entre quedarse o ser expulsados en un lugar donde trabajamos, pagamos impuestos, criamos a nuestros hijos. Les pedimos que inviertan en soluciones reales. Muchas gracias.

[00:39:02] Good afternoon members of the Board of Supervisors, my name is Alejandra and today I speak as one of the thousands of working families in London who are living through a housing crisis that can no longer be ignored.

[00:39:19] In our county between 12,000 and 16,000 households earn less than 50,000 a year. That means thousands of families are below 40% of the AMI trying to survive in one of most expensive places in the country. To afford a two-bedroom apartment a fair market rent in 2025, a family would need to earn $92,560 a year. Most of us do not earn that. Today, 42 percent of renters in London spend more than 30 percent of their income in rent and 21 percent spend more

[00:39:55] than half. And this burden falls even harder on Hispanic and immigrant families who face additional barriers related to income, documentation, and a long waiting list. We saw this clearly with the displacement of the Leesburg mobile home park.

[00:40:11] Families went from paying $639 a month to an average of $2,156, an increase of nearly 340%. Half of the families had to leave the county, and 95% were unable to access any existing program.

[00:40:30] Not because they didn't need the help, but because the current rules simply do not include them. This is the reality, and that is why we are here today. We are asking you to support the $17 million investment in a local housing voucher program.

[00:40:47] This is not an expense. It is proven to provide stability, prevents displacement, and protects the family who keep this county running. A local voucher can be the difference between staying or being pushed out of the place where we work, pay taxes, and raise our families.

[00:41:04] We ask to invest in Real Solution. We ask to invest in the families who make this county possible. We ask you to support the $70 million for local housing vouchers. Thank you. Gracias. Olivia Moreno, followed by Tommaso Valencia, followed by Andrea Alvarez.

[00:41:22] Buenas noches, señores miembros de la Junta de Supervisores.

[00:41:39] My name is Lydia Moreno. I'm retired, I worked for 22 years for this condado, serving to the community that I want. After taking more of two decades of my life to London, I never imagined that my jubilation would have difficulties to maintain my own home.

[00:41:57] The rent and the cost of housing have been so much that even with my pension fixed, every month it becomes more difficult to cover what basic. The most painful thing is that despite my trajectory y mis años de servicio no califico para los programas de ayudas existentes.

[00:42:14] Estoy en ese espacio donde no hay apoyo, pero tampoco puedo pagar el mercado. Y como yo, hay muchos adultos mayores que dieron su vida laboral a este condado y hoy están en riesgo de ser desplazados. Por eso apoyo la inversión de 17 millones de dólares en vales locales de vivienda.

[00:42:34] Para personas retiradas como yo, un vale no es un lujo, es la posibilidad de envejecer con dignidad. Good evening, members of the board and supervisors.

[00:42:56] My name is Lydia Moreno. I'm retired and I work for 22 years for this county, serving the community that I care so deeply for. After dedicating more than two decades of my life in London, I never imagined that in my retirement I would struggle to keep my own home.

[00:43:13] Rent and housing costs have risen so much that even with my fixed pension, every month it becomes harder to cover the basics. What hurts the most is that despite my trajectory and years of service, I do not qualify for the existing assistant programs.

[00:43:32] I'm in that space where there is no support, but also cannot afford market rent. And like me, there are many older adults who gave their working lives for this county and are now at risk of being displaced. That is why I support the investment of $17 million in local housing vouchers.

[00:43:51] For retirees like me, a voucher is not a luxury. It is the possibility of aging with dignity in the community we've served. For so many years, I simply want to continue living in the place I helped build. Thank you. Thank you. Tomasa Valencia, followed by Andrea Alvarez, followed by Veronica González.

[00:44:36] I live with my family in a apartment where we pay almost 2.000 dollars of rent, which represents more than 40% of our income. Every month is a struggle to keep us all day without sacrificing what essential.

[00:44:54] Last year we received a temporary aid of 500 dollars mensuales, de julio a diciembre del 2024, a través del Programa de Asistencia de la Renta. Esa ayuda fue un alivio enorme para nuestra economía familiar.

[00:45:13] Nos permitió respirar, ponernos al día y evitar caer en una crisis. Pero esa ayuda terminó y la necesidad sigue por eso. Hoy les pido que apoyen un presupuesto para un vale de vivienda.

[00:45:32] local que beneficia a mi familia trabajadores como la mía no estamos pidiendo un lujo, estamos pidiendo la oportunidad de seguir viviendo donde trabajamos donde nuestros hijos estudian y donde hemos construido nuestra vida un vale de vivienda local sería la diferencia entre estabilidad y desplazamiento para muchas familias del condado gracias Good evening, members of the County Board of Supervisors.

[00:46:08] My name is Tomasa Valencia, and I'm a member of the New Virginia Majority. I work six days a week in a restaurant inside a nursing home where I have served with dedication for 14 years. I live with my family in an apartment where we pay almost $2,000 in rent, which represents more than 40% of our income.

[00:46:28] Every month, it's a struggle to keep up without sacrificing the essentials. Last year, we received temporary assistance of $500 per month from July to December 2024. Through the rental assistance program, that help was an enormous relief for family finances.

[00:46:49] It allowed us to breathe, catch up, and avoid falling into a crisis. But that assistance ended, and the need remains. That is why today I'm asking you for the support of a budget for the local housing voucher that would benefit working families like mine.

[00:47:07] We're not asking for luxury. We are asking for the opportunity to continue living where we work, where our children study, and where we have built our lives. A local housing voucher would be the difference between stability and displacement for many families in the county.

[00:47:25] Andrea Alvarez, followed by Veronica Gonzalez, followed by Evelia Chavez.

[00:47:58] I have $2,000 for a apartment of only two quarters. My husband works in the construction of six to seven days a week, and I take care of my children and the house. We're a team, but even so, every month it's a struggle to cover the basics. Only in rentas we go more than 30% of our income, and that leaves us with very little margin for food, transport, medicine, or any emergency.

[00:48:23] We pay taxes, I take care of my children, I take care of everything that is supposed to be able to do for a family to do for us to go ahead. but we can't keep the rent in London. And like us, there are thousands of families living at the limit. That's why I'm here tonight to ask that you support the local Valet of Vivienda program with an investment of $17 million.

[00:48:46] This program would be a real relief for my family. It would give us stability, would allow us to live and work where our children study and we have built our lives. Un vale de vivienda no es un regalo. Es una herramienta que permite que las familias trabajadoras sigamos aportando a este condado sin vivir con miedo a ser desplazados.

[00:49:10] Les pido que apoyen este programa porque la estabilidad de nuestras familias también es la estabilidad de London. Muchas gracias. Gracias. Good evening, members of the board and supervisors. My name is Andrea, and I'm a leader with the New Virginia Majority.

[00:49:26] One of the issues that worries us most as a family is the excessive increase in rent. every year rent goes up this year for example they raised it by $100 to renew the lease and now we're paying almost $2,000 for a two-bedroom apartment my husband works in construction six or seven days a week and I take care of my children and our home we are a team but even though every month it is a struggle to cover the basics more than 30% of our income goes to a rental loan and that leaves us with a little for food, transportation, medicine, and emergencies.

[00:50:04] I work, I pay taxes, and I take care of my children. I do everything a family's supposed to do to get ahead. And still, we cannot keep up with the rent in London. And like us, there are thousands of hardworking families living on the edge.

[00:50:20] That is why I'm here tonight to ask you to support the local housing voucher program with an investment of $17 million. This program would be real relief for families like mine. It would give us stability and allow us to continue living where we work, where our children go to school, and where we have built our lives.

[00:50:41] A housing voucher is not a gift. It is a tool that allows working families to continue contributing to this county without living in fear of being displaced. I ask you to support this program because the stability of our families is also the stability of London.

[00:50:58] Thank you. - Thank you. Veronica Gonzalez, followed by Evelia Chavez, followed by Reyna Amador. - Good afternoon, members of Board of Supervisors. My name is Veronica, and I live in the Lisbeth Trail Park for more than five years, where I raised my daughter and where we build our life.

[00:51:20] When I used to live in the park, we used to pay $620 for the lot. Today, after being displaced, I'm paying more than the triple what I used to pay. This huge increase has put my family in a very difficult situation. My mother-in-law also live in the park, but she was displaced all the way to Winchester because she couldn't find anything affordable in London County.

[00:51:44] That means I have no longer have support with my child care. As a mother, I found myself in the need to stay home and take care of my children. And financially, we are very tight with expenses. The school change was also very hard for my children.

[00:52:03] My daughter struggled to adapt because all her friends were gone. It took her months to make new friends and get used to her new school, especially because she received additional support and reading. What we experienced was not just a change in housing.

[00:52:18] It was a break in our community, in our education, and in the stability of our families. That's why today I'm asking you to invest in a real solution, such as local housing vouchers, so that working families are not displaced again.

[00:52:37] No one should lose their home, their school, or their community because rent became impossible to afford. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Evelia Chavez, followed by Reina Amador, followed by Carrie Kidwell.

[00:52:52] Hola, mi nombre es Evelia. Soy residente del condado de London y madre de tres hijos. Como muchas familias inmigrantes, llegamos a este país con sueños y la esperanza de una vida mejor.

[00:53:08] Somos una familia trabajadora dedicada a construir un hogar donde nuestros hijos puedan crecer seguros y tener la oportunidad de convertirse en profesionales en el futuro. Hoy estoy aquí buscando mejoras reales para nuestras familias en vivienda y educación.

[00:53:27] Sabemos que la propuesta del sheriff de invertir en más policías en las escuelas elementales no es una buena opción, especialmente con los cambios recientes en temas de inmigración. Vivimos con el temor constante de ser separados como familia.

[00:53:44] Mis hijos tienen miedo de salir cada mañana a la escuela. Se sienten inseguros ante la posibilidad de que ICE pueda estar afuera de nuestro hogar. No confían en la policía porque no sabemos quién colabora o no. Y ningún niño debería vivir con ese miedo.

[00:54:00] Por eso, como familia trabajadora y como comunidad, pedimos que el dinero se invierta en verdaderas soluciones. Y necesitamos más recursos esenciales en educación, apoyo en salud mental, contratación de psicólogos en las escuelas y la expansión de los programas gratuitos después de clases que tanto nos costó lograr and that actually have limited fonds for only two years.

[00:54:28] We want to see those programs a long term. And we also need support in housing because the rents are too high and many families can't cover all our needs. The housing costs would be a concrete solution and necessary.

[00:54:44] As representatives, we ask that we bring calm, peace and security nuestras familias invirtiendo en apoyo económico sostenible en vivienda y educación queremos vivir sin miedo y con dignidad gracias gracias hello my name is abelia and i am a resident of lowland county and a mother of three children like many immigrant families we came to this country with dreams and the hope of a better life we are hard-working family dedicated to building a home where children can grow up safely and have the opportunity to become professionals in the future

[00:55:22] today i'm here seeking real improvements for our families in housing and education we know that the sheriff's proposal to invest in more police officers in elementary schools is not a good option especially with the recent changes in immigration policies we live with a constant fear of being separated as a family my children are afraid to leave for for school every morning. They feel unsafe with the possibility that ICE could be outside our home. We do not trust the police because we do not know who collaborates and who does not. No child should

[00:55:58] have to live with that fear. That is why, as a working family and as a community together, we're asking that the money be invested in real solutions. We need more essential resources in education, mental health support, hiring psychologists in school and expanding the free after-school programs that we work so hard to achieve and that currently have limited funding for only two years. We want to see those programs funded long-term. We also need support in housing. Rents are too high and many families cannot cover all our basic needs. Housing vouchers would be a

[00:56:36] concrete and necessary solution as representatives we ask you to bring calm peace and security to our families by investing in sustainable economy support for housing and education we went to live without fear and with dignity thank you next up is Reina Amador followed by Carrie Kidwell and online will be Sid Desry

[00:57:01] Buenas tardes a todos. Mi nombre es Reina. Soy líder comunitaria y madre de familia. Estoy aquí abogando por nuestras oportunidades y por el bienestar de nuestras familias. La mayoría somos familias trabajadoras que no ganamos lo suficiente para cubrir una renta tan alta y al mismo tiempo garantizar a nuestros hijos un hogar digno.

[00:57:26] Comida y estabilidad, viviendas, vivimos haciendo sacrificios todos los días para poder salir adelante. Como madre, me preocupa profundamente la seguridad de mis hijos, especialmente en las escuelas.

[00:57:42] Por eso no estoy de acuerdo con la propuesta de contratar más policías en las escuelas. Esto no nos hace sentir más seguros. Al contrario, aumenta el temor en una comunidad que ya vive con miedo. Sabemos que la ley permite la colaboración con ICE y eso genera desconfianza.

[00:58:06] Creemos que esos fondos, los 6.5 millones de dólares que se proponen para más policías, deberían invertirse en soluciones reales. Apoyo para vivienda, más vales de renta, salud mental, prevención de drogas y la expansión de programas después de las escuelas.

[00:58:29] Los programas extracurriculares actuales en Sterling han sido una gran ayuda, pero tienen cupos limitados, y eso cuentan con fondos hasta el 2027.

[00:58:45] Mis hijos han sido beneficiados, pero muchas otras familias no tienen acceso en el futuro de estos programas, es incierto. Necesitamos invertir en educación y en el bienestar de nuestras familias, no más presencia policial.

[00:59:05] Nuestros hijos merecen oportunidades, apoyo, seguridad real. Gracias. Good afternoon. My name is Reina, and I'm a community leader and a mother. I'm here advocating for opportunities and for the well-being of our families.

[00:59:23] Most of us are working-class families who do not earn enough to afford such high rent, while also providing our children with a decent home food stability. We make sacrifices every day just to get by. As a mother, I'm deeply concerned about my children's safety, especially at school.

[00:59:42] That is why I do not agree with the proposal to hire more police officers in our schools. This does not make us feel safer. Instead, it increases fear in a community that is already living with uncertainty. We know that the laws allow collaboration with ICE, and that creates distrust.

[01:00:03] We believe that $6.5 million being proposed for more police officers should instead be invested in real solutions, housing support, more rental vouchers, mental health services, drug prevention programs, and expanding after-school programs.

[01:00:22] The current extracurricular programs in Sterling have been a great help, but they have limited spots and founding only through 2027. My children have benefited, but many other families do not have access, and the future of this program is uncertain.

[01:00:45] We need to invest in education and in the well-being of our families, not in increased police presence. Our children deserve real support, real opportunities, and real safety. Thank you. Thank you. Carrie Kidwell, and I believe our final speaker online will be Sid Desry.

[01:01:03] Good evening. My name is Carrie Kidwell, and I'm a Loudon parent. I'm also a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, who has spent years educating the community about gun violence prevention.

[01:01:19] Not because I'm running for office, and not because I'm being paid, but because I care deeply about keeping our kids safe. I've attended the joint budget meeting, the school board meeting, and the town hall. I've done a lot of research, and I've listened very carefully. First, it is unfair, and frankly, offensive, for some to suggest that those of us who are questioning expanding SROs into elementary schools don't care about protecting children.

[01:01:42] Many of us are the parents sending our own children into these buildings every day. We care, and we care about following the evidence. When I look at the data, what I see is this. In most school shootings, warning signs were present. In most cases, the shooter was a minor.

[01:01:57] We also know millions of children nationwide live in homes with loaded, unlocked firearms. That means prevention, especially preventing youth access to firearms, has to be central to our strategy. We know strong mental health support and trusted school climates encourage reporting before tragedy occurs, and that when red flag laws are implemented, we reduce the risk of harm to self or others.

[01:02:19] However, decades of research have not shown that SROs prevent school shootings, and a significant investment has already been made in the robust security systems in place at LCPS. In addition, I urge you to consider data showing that school-based policing can have a disproportionate effects on marginalized students.

[01:02:37] As we witness children nationwide participating in virtual learning for their safety and some being detained in horrific conditions by law enforcement, it does not ease our concerns when they are dismissed and minimized. This is very real and pertinent. I do hear and understand the concerns about response capabilities in particular parts of the county, and I imagine there are less expensive alternate strategies to address this that does not involve armed officers embedded in the schools.

[01:03:03] If we're gonna make a long-term $18 million annual investment in safety, let it be one that keeps harm from reaching our children in the first place and caring for our community like the members we have here today. Thank you. - Thank you. And I believe our last speaker online is Sid Destry. Mr. Destry, are you on?

[01:03:20] - Sid was on, but he dropped off. - Okay. Is there anyone else that would like to speak? Seeing no one, I hereby declare this. Wait, Vice Chair. Oh, I'm sorry, yes. Sorry. Supervisor Kirshner asked by email, he had a very serious family emergency about two hours ago.

[01:03:39] He really planned on being here tonight, but he wanted you to know that he will watch the tape, but he's dealing with a pretty serious family emergency. And as we said at the beginning of the meeting, all of the colleagues that are not here will review the tapes. Vice Chair, I also have a point of clarification, if that's okay.

[01:03:55] We've heard a couple comments at the 3 o'clock and at the 6 o'clock meeting about increasing funding for the competitive grants program and for our core nonprofits. There seems to be a little bit of misinformation out there that we've only increased it by 3%.

[01:04:12] We have increased it by 3%, but we have also, we closed the gap last year of $800,000 for any nonprofits that I think scored 75% or higher. on our scoring criteria so we added that $800,000 also as an increase for our competitive nonprofit grant so we have increased the competitive nonprofit grant in this budget provided it's approved by 1 million dollars for the competitive nonprofit grant so that's way more than a 3% increase and we also increased our

[01:04:47] core nonprofit grants by $650,000 which is also way more than a 3% increase so I i just wanted to make sure that was clarified before it gets out there as fact thank you thank you supervisor briskman any other supervisors comment with that our hearing is adjourned thank you

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