Chesterfield schools project $1.66 million shortfall; CFO outlines staffing, transportation and program requests

Kevin Caskey, chief financial officer for Chesterfield County Public Schools, told the board at a work session April 28 that the district’s preliminary budget projects a $1,666,000 shortfall and outlined a slate of personnel and program funding requests that would rely on the general fund.

Why it matters: The shortfall, if not closed with new revenue or spending cuts, would reduce the district’s fund balance and requires annual decisions about positions currently funded by expiring federal ESSER grants. Board members debated revenue options including reassessment gains and a possible millage increase, but no formal vote was taken.

Caskey said state-mandated changes are the largest drivers on the cost side. Based on current legislative information, the state minimum teacher salary schedule would increase by $1,500 across cells; teachers would also receive the annual step increase. Health-insurance costs were revised in the Senate to a 4.6% increase on the employer side (removing an earlier employee-premium increase), and bus-driver minimum schedules would increase by 2%. Caskey estimated the employer-side health increase alone would add roughly $475,000 to the general fund, and he put the combined cost of the teacher step and minimum increases at about $1,350,000.

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