Chesterfield schools present $986 million operating budget, seek $15 million increase in county transfer

Chesterfield County Public Schools officials presented a fiscal 2026 proposed operating budget Friday that would spend $986 million from the district’s ongoing operating fund and roughly $1.07 billion across all funds, and asked the Board of Supervisors to increase the county transfer by $15 million.

The presentation, delivered by Dr. Murray, superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, and Bob Meister, chief financial officer, outlined priorities that district leaders said are driven by state mandates, inflationary pressures and rising student needs. “Please keep in mind that the school budget is a work in process,” Dr. Murray said, noting the district still must reconcile state budget actions and ongoing county deliberations.

The nut graf: school officials said the package balances required costs and some locally prioritized investments while warning that state funding remains uncertain. The district’s proposed operating budget assumes roughly $560 million in state support and just over $400 million in local (county) support, and it counts on recent General Assembly actions and a still-pending governor’s sign-off.

Most of the proposed increase would go to compensation and mandated services. Meister said $20 million of new money in the plan is earmarked for compensation — described as a minimum 3% across-the-board increase and step adjustments for certified staff — and additional adjustments that move the district’s minimum hourly wage from $14.42 to $14.70. The presentation also restated longer-term…