Lynchburg Joint Committee Wraps: $30M CIP Push, ESSER Fallout Fuel Debate

Lynchburg, VA—Last night’s Lynchburg Joint Committee meeting recommended a $20M CIP boost for schools in 2026, a second school closure by 2026-27, and a contested $5.5M budget hike—ESSER-funded staff bloat drew fire ahead of an April 29 vote.

The Lynchburg City Council/School Board Joint Committee Meets at City Hall on April 3rd, 2025

• The meeting: April 3 at 5 p.m., the committee’s final session cut 40+ suggestions to seven, set for a joint council-school board meeting on April 29 at 4 p.m., 3550 Young Pl.

• Key moves:

  • CIP funds: Kept recommendation reversing $68M capital plan to $30M-$20M-$10M over FY2026-2030—Committee voted 4-1 to prioritize school repairs over libraries (00:55:33-01:57:06), despite Wilder's opposition.

  • Closure: Voted 4-1 for a second elementary closure in FY2026-27 (C1, 01:36:22-01:41:15)—Norfolk’s $71M surplus school cost over five years cited.

  • Budget hike: Adopted a recommendation for a $5.5M taxpayer boost to LCS’s operating budget—over Misjuns and Timmer’s dissent, who flagged a tax hike propping up ESSER staff hires under ex-Superintendent Crystal Edwards (02:03:33-02:05:00), with enrollment down 5% since 2015 (7,709 vs. 8,137, Table 31).

  • ESSER catch: Misjuns said, “Enrollment [is] near 10-year low at 7,709 in 2024, down from 8,137 in 2015…staff is at a 10-year high” (1,317 to 1,518, 01:48:19)—Copeland confirmed ESSER funded it (02:05:00)—an unsustainable burden with no ongoing revenue backing. ESSER funds are one-time federal relief grants provided to schools under the CARES Act and subsequent COVID-19 relief packages to address pandemic-related challenges, like learning loss and facility upgrades, with Lynchburg City Schools receiving $44.4 million.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Ben Copeland at the Lynchburg City Council/School Board Joint Committee Meeting

• By the numbers:

  • $29.7M of $44.4M ESSER funds (66.95%) spent on LCS pay and benefits (ESSER dashboard)—staff costs dominate.

  • $4.68M (10.53%) of ESSER on capital outlay—vs. 22.9% statewide average (ESSER dashboard)—repairs lag.

  • $6.25M in roof needs flagged (Misjuns, 00:41:00)—tied to capital, not staff costs.

  • $71M wasted in Norfolk over five years—enrollment-driven surplus (Norfolk resolution).

• What’s good: $30M CIP and closure target waste—ESSER overreach exposed.

• What’s missing: $5.5M operating hike would hit taxpayers wallet even harder than the City Manager's proposed $9.6 million tax increase.

Co-chairs Dr. Martin Day (school board) and Dr. Sterling Wilder (City Council) at the Lynchburg City Council/School Board Joint Committee Meeting

• The kicker: Misjuns and Timmer balked at $5.5M—why tax more when ESSER bloat and shrinking enrollment scream cuts, not cash?

Sources: Joint meeting video (4/3/25), Norfolk resolution, FY2024 City of Lynchburg ACFR VDOE ESSER dashboard.