Citizens Budget Advisory Committee urges Stafford to close $14.2 million school funding gap

The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee presented its 2025 annual report to the Stafford County School Board, urging immediate steps to close a $14.2 million gap the committee says is needed to fully fund the division's proposed FY26 budget.

The CBAC report, delivered by chair Dr. Alicia Hunter, calls out Stafford County Public Schools' low standing for per-pupil spending and offers a nine-point action agenda that includes fully funding the superintendent's proposed budget, pursuing a joint multi-year funding resolution with the Board of Supervisors, expanding community advocacy and outreach, and pressing the General Assembly to remove caps on the Cost of Competing Adjustment (COCA).

Why this matters: CBAC said Stafford ranked 117 of 132 Virginia school divisions for per-pupil spending and faces rising enrollment and development that place continued pressure on school finances. The committee warned that continued underfunding undercuts teacher pay competitiveness and long-term economic development goals.

CBAC's presentation and findings Dr. Alicia Hunter, chair of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, told the board the report is backed by volunteer research from residents experienced in law, real estate, education, defense contracting, nonprofit leadership and finance. The committee estimates Stafford County Public Schools has 32,268 students and identified a $14.2 million gap to fully fund the proposed FY26 budget on top of about $59 million in unmet needs the report lists as longer-term priorities.

The committee recommended nine actions, starting with fully funding the superintendent's proposed budget and moving through steps to study community priorities, expand public advocacy and form an action-oriented joint task force with the Board of Supervisors. The package also includes lobbying for a COCA formula change at the Virginia General Assembly and partnering with the Stafford Economic Development Authority to seek business investment in schools.

Board response and questions Board members thanked CBAC for the report and asked practical questions about next steps. Board member Alyssa Halstead called the report one of the most informative she'd seen; Board member Patricia Healy said the report was more comprehensive than many contracted studies and called the funding shortfall a community problem that will require political advocacy with the Board of Supervisors.

Several board members and CBAC speakers discussed COCA, noting prior failed attempts in Richmond to win full COCA adjustments for Stafford. Board members said they would continue outreach to the local legislative delegation and the Board of Supervisors.

What CBAC urged the board to do next CBAC asked the school board to: - Fully fund the superintendent's proposed FY26 budget. - Conduct annual stakeholder surveys and a comprehensive study to guide budget priorities. - Strengthen joint work with the Board of Supervisors and Stafford EDA, including a joint multi-year funding resolution. - Pursue state legislative action to expand COCA and join with regional school divisions to press for cap removal.

Discussion vs. decision The presentation was a formal advisory report followed by board discussion; no formal budget appropriation or decision occurred during the meeting. Board members invited CBAC to continue advocacy and to share the report with the Board of Supervisors and state delegation.

Ending CBAC concluded by urging immediate action in this election year and saying it would continue advocacy. The board acknowledged the report and signaled it would consider the committee's recommendations as the FY26 budget process proceeds.