Manassas Park approves school budget using $533,000 from school stabilization fund after debate

The Manassas Park governing body voted May 13 to approve the city school budget and authorized a one-time transfer of $533,000 from the school stabilization fund to cover a line labeled a “state shortfall” that staff said had been added to the schools’ presented budget.

City finance staff told council that about $800,000 in the schools’ filing represented stabilization funds the district routinely returns at year-end and that an additional roughly $500,000 appeared in a separate line labeled “state shortfall funding,” which staff said was intended to make up for enrollment-driven revenue losses. “It was intended to provide extra funding to the school district in the event enrollment fell and funding for the school district was reduced because of that,” said Unidentified Speaker 4, explaining how the line appeared in the budget.

Council members pressed whether the $500,000 originated in school stabilization or the general fund; staff said the dollars originated from general-fund (unused school) balances and that the governing body has discretion. Unidentified Speaker 3, who announced an intent to oppose the budget, said the city faces an approximately $2.7 million shortfall in the water and sewer fund and argued the school district should accept cuts: “I’m gonna oppose your budget… I would think that you should at least take a half a million dollar reduction,” the speaker said.

School representatives said the district could absorb the amount from its stabilization line and listed possible adjustments, including scaling back summer school (estimated at about $250,000), reviewing paid maternity/paternity leave costs (discussed at roughly $200,000 in staffing replacement costs) and middle-school athletics (roughly $100,000). “We could absorb it in the stabilization line,” said Unidentified Speaker 7, noting the district expects to return about $1.3 million to reserves once an audit completes for FY24.

Council members and staff also discussed timing under state law. Dean (Speaker 2) said the statutory clock is tied to when state revenue figures are received and that the governing body has limited days to act after that; staff warned delaying approval could impede issuing employee contracts and risk staffing losses.

To avoid immediate operational disruption, Dean read a motion to approve the school budget as presented except that the $533,000 will come from the school stabilization fund instead of the city's fund balance. The motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; the record shows the motion carried.

Separately, the governing body appointed Jennifer Moyers to an unexpired term ending June 30, 2026; Ellen Slobodnick for a term running July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028; and Shontae Jones for a term beginning July 1, 2025. A voice vote approved the appointments with one abstention noted in the record.

The meeting then continued with a city-manager report and recognitions before the council recessed to a closed session to discuss a personnel matter and legal-services contracting.