Dinwiddie County School Board approves FY2026 proposed budget amid pending state action

The Dinwiddie County School Board voted to approve a proposed FY2026 school budget on a motion and second, with multiple members voicing approval.

The administration presented a budget based on the December 2024 governor’s proposal and emphasized that the plan will be updated after the governor’s and county’s final budgets are released. The presentation highlighted three priorities: compensation (including a 3% increase for all employees, one additional ESL teacher and moving a part‑time speech pathologist to full time), safety and security (a $667,000 allocation this year for a security systems management upgrade), and capital projects including boiler replacements, key‑card systems, deferred maintenance and bus purchases.

Administrators said the operating fund revenues are expected to total about $62,000,000 while expenditures are projected at approximately $62,500,000. Instruction was described as the largest expenditure category; maintenance, transportation, technology, administration, and attendance/health were presented with approximate percentage shares. The capital program discussion included a recommended increase in the small‑capital annual transfer from $150,000 to $300,000 and a list of larger projects that the district plans to pursue.

Presenters reported projection details for the capital fund (Fund 302): a starting balance near $5.1 million, an anticipated transfer of $3.1 million, projected capital spending of about $7.6 million next year and an estimated ending balance around $1.4 million. The administration also summarized other restricted funds, including the textbook fund (projected to fall from about $1.5 million to $800,000), the school nutrition fund (projected to decline to roughly $145,000), and grant funds (beginning balance ~$938,000, anticipated additional revenue ~$4.3 million, projected expenditures ~$5.4 million and an expected year‑end balance near $149,000).

In response to board questions, staff said teacher contracts will be released this week with the customary funding disclaimer tied to final budget outcomes and discussed debt service detail: major payments are tied to the recently built elementary and high school and certain older refundings, with key obligations paid off in 2028 and a separate refunding scheduled to end in 2034.

The board recorded a motion and second to approve the proposed FY2026 budget. The motion passed and the chair declared the budget approved, while noting the board will revisit adjustments after the state and county finalize their budgets.

The board’s approval is procedural and subject to later revision once official state and county budget actions are known.