Superintendent presents $41.1 million FY27 funding request, stresses staffing and new‑school costs

Dr. Smith, the Stafford County superintendent, presented the division's fiscal‑year 2027 funding request during a virtual special meeting called because of a winter‑storm emergency. He asked the School Board to support a total revenue increase of approximately $41,100,000 to cover salary adjustments, new‑school operating costs and other recurring needs.

The request centers on three priorities: matching county salary increases with an average 3.75% across employees; funding the annual operating costs of three new schools (estimated at $10,570,000); and maintaining targeted supports for high‑need students, such as interventionists, middle‑school deans and dedicated school security officers. "This is not an expansion budget," Dr. Smith said. "It's a sustain and deliver budget. It preserves momentum, protects what's working, and positions Stafford Schools to move forward without stepping backwards." Dr. Smith framed the request as the product of a zero‑based budgeting review and said the division has reduced its base budget by more than $6 million over the last five years.

Why it matters: Dr. Smith told the board that Stafford educates roughly 31,267…