Board approves several appropriations; schools report asks for buses and retention focus

The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved multiple appropriation requests and heard a schools update that emphasized maintenance, bus replacements and staff retention.

The finance director presented the monthly budget report for December and recommended three appropriations: a $10,000 grant to Cumberland County Public Schools for purposes outlined in the grant, $5,193.20 to the Circuit Court Clerk (Deidre Martin) to reimburse the department’s record-management costs, and $8,870.97 to the Department of Emergency Services tied to regional grant funding. Board members moved to approve the appropriations on the record and recorded affirmative responses.

Dr. Thomas Schwartz, representing the school division, said the system is fully accredited, noted the high school’s distinguished federal accountability rating, and said the middle and elementary schools were close to being 'on track.' He urged the board to prioritize a preventative maintenance plan to avoid costly repairs, asked that the upcoming budget include funds to purchase two school buses (not purchased in several years), and emphasized staff retention after noting neighboring divisions gave larger pay increases.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the appropriation requests and the finance director said the emergency-services reimbursement draws on awarded regional grant funds.

What’s next: the appropriations are in the FY26 budgets as presented; the school division’s budget priorities will be considered in the upcoming budget work sessions.