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Superintendent and finance staff outline budget process and enrollment shortfall
Summary
Superintendent and finance staff briefed the board on the biennial 'rebenchmarking' budget process (Governor Youngkin's HB 30/SB 30), key funding drivers and a roughly 125‑student shortfall equating to about $9.9 million against a ~ $125 million district budget.
Superintendent Doctor Bridal and finance staff provided an overview of the state rebenchmarking process and the district’s current fiscal posture at the Jan. 12 meeting.
Doctor Bridal summarized the biennial rebenchmarking cycle and cited key budget drivers — direct aid, enrollment projections, the local composite index (LCI), sales‑tax and lottery estimates, VRS contribution rates, state compensation supplements, school construction assistance and Virginia Preschool Initiative slots — and noted the outgoing governor’s proposal (identified by staff as House Bill 30 and Senate Bill 30) forms the starting point for 2028 biennium discussions.
Finance staff reported the division’s operating budget is about $125,000,000, with state funding covering roughly two‑thirds and county revenue about 29 percent. Staff said average daily membership (ADM) has held near a peak of about 8,200 students and that the district is currently roughly 125 students short of the budget projection; the presentation quantified that gap as about $9,913,000. To mitigate the shortfall, staff suggested delaying certain one‑time expenditures (laptops, maintenance projects) until enrollment projections are clearer.
Staff said the district will compare the governor’s proposal with the House Finance and Senate Finance numbers as the General Assembly process unfolds and that the board’s budget approval is scheduled for March to meet county submission timelines.
