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Board hears FY26 budget uncertainty and enrollment-driven $768,000 shortfall
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Bridal and the district finance director reported state and local budget timelines, a local tax-rate advertisement and an enrollment shortfall: average daily membership is tracking about 98 students below budget, producing a projected revenue shortfall of about $768,000 for FY26.
Superintendent Dr. Bridal and the district finance director updated the school board on FY26 budget developments, reporting uncertainty at the state level and a local enrollment-driven revenue shortfall.
State: Dr. Bridal summarized the General Assembly’s recent reconvened session and said many proposed amendments were not adopted; the budget the legislature sent back to the governor remains largely unchanged from February’s version. The governor has until May 2 to act; if he vetoes items or the budget, the General Assembly could be forced into another special session. Dr. Bridal described scenarios that could change state K–12 funding and noted the district is monitoring possible impacts including a change the governor proposed to the support-staff cap that the legislature did not act on.
Local: Culpeper County advertised a combined advertised real-estate tax rate of 44¢ per $100 assessed value (36¢ general fund + 8¢ fire/rescue), with an equalization rate of 41¢; the county scheduled a public hearing on the FY26 budget for April 21 and planned to vote to adopt a budget and set a tax rate in early May.
Enrollment and finance: Finance Director Greg Dean reported the district’s average daily membership (ADM) and enrollment are below the FY26 budget assumptions. The district’s ADM was tracking about 98 students below the budgeted 8,340; reported enrollment as of March 31 was 8,202. Dean estimated the ADM shortfall translates into an approximate $768,000 revenue shortfall (about 0.6% of the operating budget). He said federal revenues and expenditure savings may offset part of the gap, and that year-to-date operating expenditures were running slightly below last year’s pace. Food-service participation and monthly expenditures were also reported as generally on track.
Board members asked clarifying questions about timelines and local processes; staff said they continue to coordinate with the county administrator and finance director and will return with updates.
Ending District staff said they will monitor state action through the governor’s May 2 deadline, continue local budget coordination with the county (which plans a May 6 vote), and present further budget details at upcoming meetings.
