Hampton City Schools reports $110 million year-to-date revenue through November; fall membership down by 91 students

The Hampton City School Board received its monthly business and finance report for November 2024 during the Jan. 8 meeting. Brittany Branch, chief financial officer, presented revenue, expenditure and enrollment figures and described next steps if state revenue falls short.

Branch said the division received $24,000,000 in revenues in November, bringing fiscal-year-to-date revenue to $110,000,000. For November the division spent and encumbered $23,000,000; cumulative expenditures and encumbrances stood at $133,000,000 as of the end of November. Instruction remains the largest spending category, with about 40% of the budget spent to date compared with roughly 42% at the same point in fiscal 2024.

Branch said the fiscal 2025 budget was built on a March 31 average daily membership (ADM) assumption of approximately 18,814 (transcript: "18,800 and 14"). The fall membership submission to the Virginia Department of Education was 18,723, a decline of 91 students. Branch said that difference translates to an approximate $1,000,000 reduction in state revenue under the direct-aid template in effect at the time, calling the figure an estimate and saying staff would continue to monitor state revenues and use a contingency plan if the reduction materializes.

Branch also noted transfers to and from the technology classification for November 2024 and closed her report after board questions were solicited; no follow-up questions were recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: enrollment and state funding are key drivers of the division's revenue. A material reduction in state aid would require budget monitoring and could trigger contingency measures the division has planned.

Ending: The board accepted the report and moved to deliberations and other agenda items.