Summary

Council approves updated financial policies

HarrisonburgMar 24, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council approved revisions to Harrisonburg’s financial management policies and approved several funding actions, including $255,000 for land next to Fire Station Four, $174,403 for the Eastern Source project, and more than $1.45 million in additional school funding.

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Economic Development Community Development

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City Council

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What this means

The updated financial policies guide how the city manages assets, debt, and other financial decisions. Council also approved funding for public utilities, stormwater and water-related work, land near a fire station, and Harrisonburg City Public Schools. The 2026 Community Development Block Grant plan began a 30-day public comment period, but no final action was taken on it.

Key decisions

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Approved revisions to the city’s Financial Management Policies by a 4-0 vote, with one council member absent.
Approved an addendum allowing Build Our Park to consider a public-private partnership approach for the Downtown Harrisonburg Park project; any proposal and final agreement will require additional Council approval.
Approved a $255,000 supplemental appropriation to purchase land next to Fire Station Four and transferred $174,403 in remaining 2021 bond interest earnings to the Eastern Source project for Public Utilities.
Approved a supplemental appropriation related to the Saufley Farm for water, stormwater, and General Fund purposes, including nutrient credits, tree planting, and potential raw-water-line savings.
Approved increases of $1,398,507.29 to the School Fund budget and $56,369.17 to the School Capital Projects budget from additional state and federal funding.
Approved reallocating $1,481,630.83 from the completed Rocktown High School capital project to Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ Facilities project.
Approved ordinances temporarily changing certain voting precincts and disposing of public property at 301 S. Main Street, both on second reading.
Opened the 30-day public comment period for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan; no action was taken.
Appointed Ryan Silver to a first term on the Economic Development Advisory Committee ending March 24, 2030.

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