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Halifax County School Board approves FY26 budget to send to supervisors; members question use of capital carryover
Summary
The school board approved the proposed FY26 budget to forward to the Board of Supervisors, including a 3% staff pay increase, VPI expansions and several state‑awarded grants; one board member objected to using $2.8 million from capital carryover to balance the budget.
The Halifax County School Board voted to approve its final proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and to forward that proposal to the county Board of Supervisors after a public hearing and staff presentation.
Superintendent Doctor Huskin and finance staff presented the budget as unchanged from the governor’s proposed allocations and highlighted a 3% salary increase for staff, added state funding for class‑size reduction and additional VPI (Virginia Preschool Initiative) program funding. Staff said the state provided an increase in recurring funds of $1,611,816 and the local match required was $320,946; the division’s preliminary total budget figure presented was $84,087,191.
Administrators also told the board they had obtained two state awards that will require amendments once formal letters arrive: roughly $550,000 (described in meeting remarks as an approved state grant) and another $174,000 for school safety personnel, both to take effect July 1. Staff said those items will be added by amendment after the district receives formal notice.
During the hearing, one board member publicly objected to the proposed use of about $2.8 million from the district’s capital carryover to balance the operating budget, saying it was not fiscally prudent. Board members otherwise voted to approve the budget for submission. The board also asked staff to confirm with the county whether additional county adjustments were expected and whether another public hearing would be required; staff replied the numbers presented to the Board of Supervisors had not changed and this was the final procedural step.
Separately, the board approved two current‑year budget amendments: acceptance and allocation of a state‑authorized $1,000 bonus for eligible employees in the current year (staff said the state distribution is $523,308 and the district will issue the bonus in the June 30 payroll), and an internal reallocation request that moved $1,350,000 into federal program lines to preserve reimbursement eligibility and to cover utility and fuel increases. Board members voted to approve both amendments during the meeting.
Staff told the board they will provide a clean set of amended budget documents and a signature sheet for the county process and continue to update the board when formal grant notifications arrive.
