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Chesterfield school board approves $986.7 million FY‑26 operating budget
Summary
The Chesterfield County Public Schools board approved a proposed FY‑26 operating budget totaling $986.7 million, a 4.5% increase from the current year, to be transmitted to the county for its review. The plan assumes state budget actions still pending with the governor and includes a 3% compensation pool.
Chesterfield County Public Schools on Feb. 27 approved a proposed FY‑26 operating budget of $986,700,000 and directed staff to send the budget to the county for its review and public hearings.
The budget as presented by staff incorporates roughly $15.4 million in new state revenue tied to recent General Assembly actions (including elimination of a support cap and enhanced special education funding), a $1 million county adjustment and other one‑time items that together close the division’s projected gap. "The operating budget, as set today seeking your approval is $986,700,000, a 4.5% increase," presenter Mr. Meister said during his presentation.
Board members were shown how that figure combines with food‑service and grant lines to reach about $1.072 billion across funds, a 4.3% increase. The superintendent’s proposal and subsequent adjustments produced about $42.8 million in new revenue proposals on the expense side, including a 3% compensation adjustment budgeted at about $20.2 million. Meister told the board the plan also shifts some pre‑K funding from Head Start into the state Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) and relies on projected state actions that remain subject to the governor’s approval.
The presentation included a list of unfunded priorities—operations and technology replacement cycles, major maintenance and additional staffing and compensation proposals—should additional funding become available. Meister said the division still anticipates a potential Chromebook lease obligation beginning in FY‑27 and noted the budget must be delivered to county staff by March 1 to meet the county’s timeline; the Board of Supervisors’ related work session was scheduled for March 12.
A motion to approve “memo 02‑25” as presented passed by roll call; the board recorded aye votes from Todd Heffron, Dominique Chatters, Stephen Pronto, Lisa Hudgins and Ann Coker.
The budget will now enter the county’s review and public outreach calendar, including county town halls and the county public hearing process. The state’s final action on General Assembly amendments remained pending as of the meeting, and staff noted the budget assumptions depended on those outcomes.
