Public hearing on Northumberland school budget spotlights $1.2M county funding request, contract payout and staffing questions

At a June 5 public hearing in the Northumberland County courtroom, county and school officials presented the Northumberland County School Division’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which requests an additional $1,216,587 in county funding and lists $23,535,083 in estimated revenue and $22,655,990 in estimated expenditures.

The proposed increase and a large rise in an “executive administrative services” line item drew public criticism and questions about a contract payout tied to a terminated superintendent. Dr. Leslie, the school division official who prepared the budget, told the board she discovered an error in the posted expenditures and revenue because federal expenses were submitted separately and that, when federal expenses are added, the division is not showing excess revenue. She also said she had produced multiple budget versions and “without modifying any employee compensation, I've already…