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Cabell County projects staffing and enrollment pressures for FY26; district flags PEIA and excess‑levy uncertainty
Summary
District leaders outlined FY26 budget pressures tied to declining enrollment, staffing levels above the state funding formula, potential PEIA employer premium increases, and a draft excess levy estimate. Officials said the district is above the GFOA reserve but will need to consider staffing adjustments and other measures to sustain services.
Cabell County Schools staff presented a FY26 budget preview that highlighted persistent enrollment declines, staffing levels above the state funding formula, and potential cost pressures from health insurance (PEIA) increases and other contingencies.
District leadership showed that second‑month enrollment this year is 11,178, down from a recent peak of about 13,200 in 2014‑15 — a decline of roughly 2,043 students. That decline has not been matched by an equivalent reduction in staffing. The district reported 997 professional positions versus a formula allowance of 864 (about 133 positions over formula) and service‑personnel counts above the state allocation; staff characterized the gap as a primary challenge for next year’s budget.
Presenters noted that some staffing increases were driven by program changes and state mandates: the ECAT (early childhood/aid) allocations for K‑2/3 grades have added roughly 30 positions that the state formula funds only in part, and the district also restored Crossroads staffing this year. Staff gave rough costs for representative positions: an average starting teacher total cost (salary plus benefits) of about $67,000 and an estimated cost of about $47,400 for a new bus driver; those local costs mean that the 273 positions funded locally (outside formula) cost roughly $15.6 million in local dollars, staff said.
Health‑insurance costs (PEIA) were flagged as a substantial unknown. Presenters noted public discussion of a 14% premium increase for employees and said a similar employer‑side increase could add important costs for the district; a back‑of‑envelope estimate in the packet suggested a 14% employer increase could cost the district roughly $463,500 for the locally funded 273 positions. Staff cautioned that the legislature and PEIA could change final rates during the upcoming session.
The presentation included a draft estimate of next year’s excess‑levy proceeds based on state tax department property estimates: the district could see about $470,000 more in excess‑levy revenue under the state estimate, but after required shares to the library ($28,695) and park board ($8,875) the net available for district use would be about $432,000. Staff emphasized those numbers are draft until the state finalizes property values in March.
District leadership urged careful stewardship to avoid repeated drawdowns below the GFOA recommended reserve standard; they said the projected FY25 ending fund balance would leave only a modest cushion above the GFOA minimum for FY26, and that choices this spring will affect the district’s ability to maintain services. No formal board decisions were made; staff said they will continue analyzing staffing and budget options and will return with options as recommended actions that may include reassignments, reductions, or use of one‑time funds.
