Norfolk school board adopts $772.9 million all-funds operating budget for FY 2025–26

On March 19 the Norfolk Public Schools board approved the division’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget, adopting an all-funds plan the administration described in its presentation as approximately $772.9 million.

The budget presentation listed components as: a $450,000,000 general fund, a $26,900,000 school nutrition fund, a $42,800,000 grants and special programs fund, and a $253,000,000 capital improvement projects fund, for an all-funds total the administration stated as $772,900,000.

Board members moved and seconded the motion to adopt the budget; the motion carried in a roll-call vote with six members voting yes and one member voting no. The board’s roll call shows the budget passed after a brief discussion in which a member expressed opposition, saying there was insufficient evidence that the proposed budget advanced the board’s stated goals and asking for a more disciplined, strategic approach to ensure equitable resource distribution at harder-to-staff schools. The board did not amend the budget that night.

During the financial-report portion of the meeting staff had earlier summarized year-to-date collections and expenditures for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2024, noting general fund collections of roughly $294 million through February (reported as approximately 63% of the general fund budget) and that expenditures plus encumbrances were roughly $301.7 million (about 64.6% of the budget) for the same period.

The budget adoption followed the board’s vote to approve the consent agenda and other items earlier in the meeting. The board asked follow-up financial questions during the meeting about specific lines in the February financial statement and requested additional detail on certain encumbrances and credit-card transactions; staff said it would provide clarifying information as a follow-up.