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Board agrees to restore preschool funding in FY26 budget; staff to present funding options
Summary
After public testimony and staff recommendations, Rockbridge County supervisors agreed to restore one year of funding for the county’s preschool off-the-bus program in the advertised FY26 budget and asked staff to return with options — using reserves or allocating part of a proposed tax increase — for final adoption next week.
Rockbridge County supervisors said April 28 they will restore funding for the county’s preschool off-the-bus program in the FY26 budget and asked staff to present funding-source options ahead of budget adoption.
County staff said the advertised budget proposed eliminating the preschool program, which serves about 26 children in three locations — Effinger, Fairfield and Goshen — operating three days a week during the school year from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. After the budget advertisement, staff received 24 public comments; 23 urged restoring funding for the program. Staff outlined three funding options to restore the program for FY26: use reserves, dedicate $162,293 of the proposed real-estate tax increase to the program, or find other budget reductions.
Multiple program staff and caregivers addressed the board during the public hearing. “Our children… are not ready for them to go all day long every day,” said Edwenna Schafer, who identified herself as “Miss Dwenny” and a representative of the program. Mercy Smith, lead teacher for the Effinger and Goshen locations, described student improvements tied to the program’s services, including speech gains supported by the school-district speech therapist.
Board members discussed longer-term program governance and agreed to engage the school division about possibly moving the program under the schools in FY27. Several supervisors expressed support for using reserves to restore one year of funding while the county and schools develop a longer-term plan; one supervisor said dedicating part of the proposed tax increase is an alternate option.
No formal budget adoption occurred at the meeting; state law requires at least one week between the public hearing and formal adoption. Staff was directed by the board to include the restored preschool funding and the two funding-source options in the budget materials prepared for the board’s next meeting, when the board will consider final adoption of the FY26 budget.
Key facts and context
• Program served about 26 children across three sites and operates three days per week, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Since advertisement, staff received 24 public comments, 23 of which supported restoring funding.
• Staff presented two primary funding options to restore the program for FY26: (1) draw from county reserves, or (2) dedicate $162,293 of the proposed real-estate tax increase to the program.
• The board requested staff include the chosen funding-source option in the packet for the May 5 meeting, when the board will consider final budget adoption.
