Albemarle school board adopts $284.2 million FY26 budget; adds two school resource officers amid dissent

The Albemarle County School Board voted 6–1 on May 20 to adopt a $284,194,448 FY2026 school fund budget and $28,887,689 for special revenue funds.

The budget proposal presented by Maya Kumazawa, director of budget and planning, matched projected revenues of $284.2 million and included $14.8 million in year‑to‑year increases. That package combined baseline cost adjustments, nondiscretionary changes, $8.3 million in “learning for all” investments and $7.0 million in service reductions.

Kumazawa said the $8.3 million in investments would fund a 3% across‑the‑board salary increase for employees and an additional 4.5% raise targeted to special‑education teaching assistants and transportation assistants. Other investments listed in the proposal included approximately $500,000 for instructional resources recommended by the Bellwether report, roughly $400,000 to support Scholars Studio staffing, $650,000 to expand special‑education intensive services at the Intensive Support Center, and funding for two school resource officers (one at Monticello High School and one at Western Albemarle High School) so all three comprehensive high schools would have dedicated coverage.

The $7.0 million in reductions translate to about 46 full‑time equivalent positions and include a mix of structural ongoing changes and one‑time reductions. Kumazawa said the FY26 budget as adopted closes the district’s funding gap to zero using structural changes and one‑time savings built into the plan. She cautioned the board that projected revenues likely will not cover next year’s projected needs, leaving an estimated multiyear shortfall (the presentation identified a potential $3.0+ million gap in future years and warned of a possible $10 million shortfall if state funding indices do not change).

Board members held brief discussion. During the public portion of the meeting, one board member said she was “strongly opposed to the adoption of SROs in our school” and that district funds “could be much better utilized in another way.” The motion to adopt the budget was moved by Judy Lee and seconded by Mr. Paige; the subsequent roll‑call recorded six yes votes and one no vote (Miss Billman voted no). The transcript shows Chair Catherine Acuff participated by phone for this agenda item, and the board thanked the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors for additional local revenue assistance noted in the packet.

The board also heard a third‑quarter financial report from Jackson Zimmerman, who said the district was on track and expected to add slightly to fund balance by year end; the board approved that report before taking up the FY26 adoption. The budget presentation and materials list the state revenue estimates provided after the 2025 General Assembly and local transfers approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Kumazawa and staff said several proposals were only partially funded and will require additional resources in future years. The board approved the FY26 budget at the May 20 meeting and did not adopt additional needs‑based funding requests that would have increased the total beyond the adopted revenue projection.