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Board approves FY26 operating budget adjustments, CIP and salary increases; one-time $650 bonuses authorized
Summary
The Virginia Beach School Board approved a suite of budget and compensation actions on May 27, including an amended FY26 operating budget request to city council to incorporate additional state funding, adoption of a $870.4 million CIP, approval of a revised salary schedule, and a one-time $650 bonus for full-time employees.
The Virginia Beach School Board approved a slate of fiscal measures on May 27, including amended operating budget requests, capital program adoption, a salary resolution for fiscal year 2025-26 and one-time bonuses for employees.
Operating budget and appropriations: The board requested an additional appropriation of $2,694,929 from the city of Virginia Beach to reflect additional state funds and special add-ons; the board also requested $1,953,127 from the cell tower fund for completion of a phone system replacement and $162,100 for athletic fund increases tied to approved ticket-price changes. The operating budget amendment cited an additional state allocation of $13,585,069 in the amended state budget; the clerk announced the motion passed 11-0.
Capital Improvement Program: The board adopted the FY26-FY31 CIP, approving a total program of $870,409,239 as presented. The motion passed 10-1.
Salary resolution and bonuses: The board approved the salary resolution (Option 2) that sets instructional entry-level increases at 3% plus a 1.5% step increase (an aggregate effect on the instructional scale of 4.5% where applicable). The unified pay scale changes include a 3% entry increase with 1% step for employees with 0-14 years and 1.5% step for 15+ years as described in the attachments. Funding for the higher option was presented as incorporated in the proposed FY26 operating budget.
The board also approved a one-time bonus resolution, reflecting state guidance, to provide a $650 onetime bonus to all full-time equivalent employees as of June 1, 2025. The communicated state allocation for the bonuses was $6,584,326; the motion passed unanimously.
Presentations and timing: Director of Business Services Daniel Hopkins presented interim financial statements and noted that federal impact aid was about $14,000,000 year-to-date and that direct aid and a state bonus were included in the revised figures. Chief Financial Officer Crystal Pate reviewed the salary resolution details and confirmed the effective date would be July 1, 2025, contingent on board budget approval. Staff told the board payroll and HR were prepared to process the bonuses and scheduled distribution for June 15.
What happens next: Some items (phone system procurement, CIP design and construction work, and salary/step payments) will require staff action to implement; funding appropriations from the city council are required before some expenditures. The board directed staff to proceed and to return with the administrative steps needed to execute these budget decisions.
