Scott Demharter

The Commission addressed several items, including a report from the President regarding his upcoming retirement, financial updates from the Audit and Budget Review Committee, and an update on the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget. Procurement actions were approved, including contracts for ferry repair services, pre-employment background screening, general contractor services, and safety and security management support. The Commission also discussed federal legislative updates, transit advocacy efforts, and approved the adoption of the Transit Employee Appreciation Month resolution and updated public comment rules. Additionally, informational reports were provided regarding Paratransit and Transit Ridership advisory sub-committees and safety program status.

The committee reviewed the FY2027 Draft Operating Budget, including the budget calendar and staffing considerations for non-union positions. Additionally, the session involved detailed locality-specific reviews of Transportation Service Plans (TSPs) and contributions for the cities of Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Hampton. Key discussion topics included micro-transit funding, route adjustments, special event service hours, and locality contribution bases. Action items were established regarding paratransit usage data and further research on the impacts of proposed service changes.

The committee reviewed an internal audit update, including the Internal Audit Charter and the 2026 Audit Schedule. Procurement recommendations were discussed for ferry repair services and pre-employment background screening services. Various task orders were reviewed, including ticket vending machine parts and software licenses. The committee also covered fleet updates, future procurement schedules, and contract options to be exercised.

The committee reviewed the financial report for December 2025. Old business included discussions on the status of the sustainability study, the project reconciliation report, budget projection updates, balance sheet timelines, and the status of the FY2025 audit. Additionally, the committee discussed the personnel report, SOP status, follow-up questions regarding the FY2027 operating budget, and pending action items concerning revenue expense reconciliation and reconciliation letters for municipalities. New business focused on fare policy review and the methodology regarding an operating budget reclassification.

The committee reviewed the January 2026 financial report, discussing topics such as maintenance reclassifications, contractor fuel rates, contract services variances, cost allocation, state deferred revenue, and vacation payouts. The preliminary operating budget for FY2027 was presented, covering line-item comparisons, retirement and health insurance expense increases, contracted services, and light rail utility costs. Old business updates included reports on the sustainability study, project reconciliation, budget projections, audit status, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) updates, human resources position updates, and reconciliation of capital project revenue and expenses. New business topics included an update on General Assembly legislation and a fare policy review concerning transfer options between transit services.