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Henrico schools present FY26 budget that includes 6% general pay increase and $60 million net boost to general fund
Summary
At an April 17 work session, Henrico County Public Schools staff presented the fiscal year 2026 budget for final approval, showing roughly $60 million in additional general-fund resources, a 6% across-the-board pay increase for returning full-time employees, and targeted market adjustments for lower-paid classifications.
Henrico County Public Schools officials on April 17 presented the division—inal fiscal year 2026 budget for school-board approval, saying the package includes pay- and market-adjustments that staff and trustees described as among the largest recent increases for the region.
The presentation said the general fund is increasing by about $60,000,000 for FY26, composed of roughly $46,300,000 in additional state revenue and about $13,700,000 in local funds. "The budget that is now before the school board includes all the initiatives that were incorporated into the superintendent's recommended budget," the budget presenter said, summarizing a process that included public input and county approval earlier this month.
Why it matters: Board members said the salary changes are the most consequential part of the package for employees and the division's ability to recruit and retain staff. The budget would raise pay for all returning full-time employees by 6% (described in the presentation as a 3.628% wage increase plus one step), and provide market adjustments for more than 1,000 full-time positions, with the presentation noting market adjustments for some job classes in the range of 13.8% to 19.3%.
Key details from the presentation: Instruction remains the largest spending category, consuming more than 75% of general-fund expenditures in the FY26 budget. The state share of general-fund revenue is projected to increase to 56.2% of the total. Other line-item changes cited by staff include a 2.1% decrease in debt service tied to previously approved capital-project debt, a 5.7% increase in the school nutrition fund driven by higher food and salary costs, and a 2.5% rise in state and federal special revenue budgets driven in part by the Virginia Preschool Initiative. The division said total operating budgets across all funds grow by about 7.1%.
Board reaction and context: Board member Kinsella thanked staff for making the pay changes possible and said, "I don't think I've seen 6% in this region" in recent memory. Board member Irving asked whether the 6% increase is the largest in the region; the presenter replied, "Yes. It's the largest across the board." Irving and other trustees emphasized that market adjustments targeting custodial staff, maintenance assistants, instructional assistants and nutrition workers could have a substantial effect on household budgets.
Next steps: The presenter said the budget before the board reflects the superintendent's recommended package and the county supervisors' approval of the countywide budget on April 8. At the work session staff sought final school-board approval at the forthcoming monthly meeting; the formal motion and vote on final adoption were not recorded in the excerpt of the work-session transcript provided.
Quotes in context: "All returning full time employees will see a 6% salary increase," the budget presenter said. Board members repeatedly expressed appreciation to division and county staff for securing the local and state revenue that made the pay plan possible.
Ending: Staff told the board they would be available to answer further questions and to supply more detailed data as the board deliberates final adoption at its regular meeting.
