Prince George County schools propose $99.5 million FY26 budget, ask for 5% pay increase; two supplemental appropriations approved

Superintendent Dr. Lyle and finance staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget for Prince George County Public Schools that would raise the school division’s total budget from just over $94 million to about $99.5 million and includes a proposed 5% salary increase for employees.

The proposal, presented at a special school board budget work session on Feb. 24, 2025, would increase the regular (general) fund from $84.9 million in FY25 to about $90.0 million in FY26. “A 5% salary increase is paramount for recruitment and retention of staff,” Dr. Lyle said, framing the raise as the administration’s priority to reduce costly reliance on contracted services and long‑term substitutes.

The nut graf: Board members were given line‑by‑line revenue and expenditure detail, state budget context and a list of school‑level staffing requests tied to student needs. After public comment, the board approved two supplemental appropriations for the current year—one to the Child Nutrition Services Fund and one to the Grant Fund—and directed staff to schedule additional budget work sessions before the March meeting when the board will consider final adoption.

At a high level, finance staff member Mr. Sorensen said the total FY26 proposal across all school division funds is about $99,500,000, a $5.4 million, or 5.8 percent, increase over the current adopted budget. “In total, the current year budget is just over…