Finance committee presents FY26 budget recommendation to Bedford County School Board; warns of $4.3 million shortfall and lists possible cuts

The Bedford County School Board’s finance committee presented its recommended operating budget for fiscal 2026 at a Jan. 29 special work session, telling the full board the division needs roughly $4.3 million in additional ongoing funding to achieve the committee’s initial package of pay adjustments, health insurance increases and program additions.

Finance committee representative Mister Hagler and members of the division’s executive team led the presentation and said the document is a recommendation for discussion; the board will reconvene next week to consider adjustments and vote to forward a request to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors. Hagler said state budget action is still pending and that the division is watching the governor’s, house and senate proposals for final numbers.

Key figures and priorities presented by staff and the finance committee:

- Teacher pay and retention: The division ranks 107 out of 131 Virginia school divisions for teacher salary and 16 out of 20 in Region 5, the presentation said. The committee calculated an average teacher-pay gap of about $4,175 below the state average and noted larger gaps at later steps (the presentation cited roughly $6,374 at the 25-year step). Staff said the local retention rate for teachers is about 84 percent and that most attrition occurs in the first five years of service.

- Per-pupil spending and outcomes: Staff said Bedford County spends less per pupil than many neighboring divisions (presentation language: ranking near the bottom of state per-pupil spending) while the division’s academic performance remains in the upper third of the state;…