Powhatan school board says proposed 2026 budget is millions short; legal fees, cybersecurity and alternative‑education among priorities

Powhatan County Public Schools officials told the school board on Feb. 25 that a revised county transfer leaves the division with a multi‑million dollar shortfall in its proposed fiscal 2026 budget, and board members debated whether to cut programs, eliminate positions or seek other savings such as reducing legal fees.

Finance staff presented a one‑page summary of changes and said state budget amendments could reduce the gap but would not eliminate it. “When you take that $873,000 from the $2,500,000, we're still short a million $6.85,” said Mrs. Halloway, the division finance lead, summarizing a series of program and revenue adjustments. Halloway identified several specific changes: adding ongoing transportation software costs ($8,200), a psychologist intern including FICA ($19,700), software to support student transcripts, a decrease to one outside program by $7,800 and an increase to another by $8,900. She also said proposed state increases for Basic Aid ($603,214) and a special‑education add‑on ($139,581) would bring an additional $742,795 toward the shortfall.

Halloway told the board that the county finance staff revised the requested county transfer downward from an earlier request…