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Cabell County Schools projects $7.1 million shortfall for FY26, cites enrollment drop and rising costs
Summary
District staff presented a proposed FY2026 operating budget showing a $7.13 million shortfall driven by lower enrollment, rising health and liability insurance, and increased special education and personnel costs; the board may vote May 20 and must adopt a budget by May 30.
Cabell County Schools staff told the Board of Education on May 5 that the district’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget includes a projected $7,134,000 shortfall and would draw on reserves to balance next year’s obligations.
“We are projecting about a $7,100,000 shortfall for next year,” Mr. Rotgen, a district staff member presenting the budget, said. He told the board the district could use carryover funds to cover the gap but emphasized the county’s legal requirement to adopt a budget no later than May 30.
The shortfall reflects several factors the staff identified at the work session. Student headcount has declined: the district lost 258 students between the most recent Oct. 1 counts, and staff said the district has lost about 2,043 students since a peak year, an average decline of roughly 204 students per year. Because state aid is driven by enrollment, the decline reduces revenue even as many operating costs rise.
Rotgen also…
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