Page County Schools present preliminary budget: $2.3M CIP ask, recommends 4% raise plus step; projects gap if all requests funded

Page County Public Schools officials presented a preliminary fiscal-year budget showing $1.4 million in additional state revenue under the governor’s amended proposal but a larger set of local spending requests that would create a shortfall if all items are funded.

Administrators told the school board they plan to ask the Page County Board of Supervisors for $2.3 million in one-time capital funding (Fund 2) for prioritized projects, and recommended a 4% compensation increase plus step movement for staff as the division’s preferred pay action this year. The division’s initial estimate of all requested new staff and increased operating costs totals about $3.7 million, producing a preliminary gap of roughly $2.2 million under current revenue assumptions.

Why it matters: school budgets are the division’s main annual policy choice and determine whether the division can add reading and math specialists, a data specialist, a floating nurse, maintenance trades capacity and other staff requested by principals. Board members were asked to prioritize staffing requests so leaders can present a narrower, fundable package if state or local dollars fall short.

What administrators presented

- State revenue. The presentation used the governor’s December amendments and an assumed average daily membership (ADM) of 2,830 students for planning. Officials said the governor’s package would add roughly $1.4 million to the division’s base funding, but about $1.0 million of that is tied to a compensation supplement targeted at employee pay.

- Local composite index and enrollment. Staff cited Weldon Cooper Center population data and VDOE ADM guidance in explaining why they propose a conservative ADM for planning. They noted increases in religious exemptions and homeschooling as a factor that reduces the projected student count used to calculate state funding.

- Compensation. The administration proposed a 4% salary increase plus step movement for eligible employees; the local share of that option was presented as approximately $273,000. Officials said the state covers part of a 3% supplement for SOQ-funded positions and the division is trying to balance competitiveness with available local funds.

- Staffing requests. The division listed proposed new positions totaling just over $1.0 million if fully funded. Requests included two middle-school reading specialists, elementary math specialists, additional instructional assistants for each school, a division social worker, a data-support specialist, an HVAC specialist, a part-time behind-the-wheel driver instructor, and a division safety officer (partially grant-funded if a state grant is awarded).

- Capital (Fund 2) ask. The administrators proposed a targeted $2.3 million capital request to the Board of Supervisors for prioritized projects drawn from the division’s CIP. They said the total CIP need exceeds that amount and that some items were deferred pending the results of two planned facility studies.

- Insurance and operating cost pressures. Staff said the division expects a substantial increase in health insurance costs (an estimate presented was an 18% rise, which the staff said would add roughly $802,000 if absorbed by the division). Utilities and other contract costs were modeled at higher percentages as well.

- Nutrition services and participation. Food services staff reported roughly $2.6 million in projected revenue for the nutrition fund (Fund 5) and described summer meal expansion and efforts to raise breakfast and lunch participation as a way to grow federal reimbursement.

Board discussion and next steps

Board members asked for more detail on priorities and urged administrators to press for higher pay increases where feasible to remain competitive with neighboring divisions. Staff said final budget numbers will be refined as the General Assembly and the governor complete action; they will return with updated revenue and expenditure estimates in coming weeks and will send a formal request to the Board of Supervisors in the calendar the division presented.

Votes and other actions taken at the meeting

The board approved several routine and operational items related to the business of the division: claims and payment certifications, purchase orders over $10,000, a five-year copier lease proposal, a strategic-plan name change, and a one-day calendar adjustment. (See “Votes at a glance” below for motions noted during this meeting.)

Ending

Administrators asked board members to review the staffing request list and return priorities so staff can prepare a menu of options for the board and for the Board of Supervisors as the revenue picture becomes clearer.