Albemarle County’s draft FY27 budget is bigger than ever

The numbers are in: Albemarle County’s proposed FY27 budget totals $724,021,078—roughly $86 million more than FY26. The budget, presented by County Executive Jeff Richardson on February 25, was balanced with no tax rate increases. In the general fund, the largest expenditure category is education, with $218.3 million slated for transfer to Albemarle County Public Schools. […]

Downtown Mall sees increased visits ahead of 50th anniversary

Teacher arrested Albemarle County police arrested Nicholas J. Clark, a fifth grade teacher at Woodbrook Elementary School, for child pornography on Monday, March 2, following a cyber tip. The Charlottesville resident, 29, was charged with two felonies: possessing child pornography and distributing child pornography. “We know this news is deeply concerning,” said Woodbrook Principal Christie […]

What candidates can, and can’t do, with surplus campaign funds

If you’ve ever signed up for campaign alerts or donated to a candidate, you’ve probably received a text, email, or letter asking for donations. Sometimes, those asks continue post-election. So what happens to that leftover money after an election, or after candidates end their campaigns? The answer: It depends on the office, and where you […]

The strange story of Stefan Friedman and his faltering feast

When the axe fell on Stefan Friedman’s restaurants, their sudden closures left staff and patrons surprised. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, Omakase Obscura, The Wine Guild of Charlottesville, Vitae Spirits Distillery, and Old Metropolitan Hall—the entire once-bountiful table of Friedman’s company, A Moveable Feast—folded or changed hands without any apparent warning. But the signs were there for […]

Multimillion money matters, bargain bands, and flying forward—a local look at the latest in Albemarle County

In an ever-changing national political climate, it can be easy to miss the latest local goings-on. So rather than a look at what’s happening nationally, this week’s C-VILLE dives into the “state of the union” in Albemarle County, from money matters to flight paths. Assessments Per the county’s 2026 reassessment, property values are up across […]

Piedmont Housing Alliance purchases MACAA site and prepares for construction

When Sunshine Mathon took the helm as executive director of the Piedmont Housing Alliance in August 2017, the entity managed about 350 affordable units.  Since then, PHA has doubled that number through projects such as the redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood and construction of affordable rental units at the redeveloped Southwood Village.  And there’s […]