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Virginia Beach schools report $27.8M unspent balance as board wrestles with budget calendar
Summary
The district reported a favorable fiscal year 2025 outcome with an approximate $27.8 million unspent/unencumbered balance and preliminary reversion estimates near $38.1 million; the board debated and approved an amended budget workshop calendar for the coming months.
The Virginia Beach School Board heard an interim financial presentation on Sept. 23 showing a favorable revenue trend for fiscal year 2025 and a substantial remaining balance as budget season approaches.
Daniel Hopkins, director of the Office of Business Services, said the division's final revenue trend for the year ending June 30, 2025, was approximately $10.7 million over budget and that the district's remaining unspent and unencumbered balance was $27.8 million. Hopkins told the board that preliminary reversions and adjustments — including athletic funds and other items — produced a preliminary reversion back to the city of about $38.1 million and that the district's share of surplus from revenue-sharing work totaled roughly $7.5 million. He stressed the figures were unaudited and subject to change.
Hopkins outlined revenue composition (approximately 51.1% city contribution, 37.8% Commonwealth of Virginia, 9% state sales tax, 1.7% federal) and described the timing differences for state and federal allocations, noting some state lines begin in January and others much later. He described the effect of the composite index on state basic aid and advised the board that federal impact aid had been favorable in the reporting year.
The financial presentation prompted questions from board members about the state "calc tool" (student-count and funding calculations) timing and how uncertain state timing complicates budget planning; staff committed to follow-up memos and to returning with recommended uses for surplus funds on Oct. 14.
Budget calendar debate: Vice Chair Weems proposed a substitute calendar that would remove two budget-workshop dates to reduce meeting frequency; Superintendent Doctor Robertson urged the board to retain capacity for public engagement and staff preparation during an unusually difficult budget season. After extended debate about operational efficiency versus public access and the need for more meeting time during difficult budget decisions, the board amended the substitute to keep Jan. 20 and March 17 on the calendar as "to be determined" special meetings and approved the amended substitute motion in a recorded vote (10 ayes).
Next steps: staff will return with more detailed recommendations about possible uses of surplus funds at the Oct. 14 meeting; figures presented were unaudited and Hopkins advised the board those amounts could change with final accounting and state/federal adjustments.
