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Upshur County board reviews preliminary $41 million FY26 budget, cautions over federal cuts and enrollment decline
Summary
At a special meeting the Upshur County Board of Education heard a preliminary FY26 budget showing roughly $41 million in Fund 11 revenue and expenses, a projected drop in state aid tied to lower enrollment, and staff warnings about pending federal program cuts and invoice timing concerns.
The Upshur County Board of Education reviewed a preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget that estimates about $41 million in both revenue and expenditures for the district's general fund, staff told the board.
The budget presentation, given by the district finance presenter, showed property tax revenue of about $6,900,000 (a decrease of roughly $240,000 from the previous year) and tentative state aid near $21,000,000, "which is a decrease from fiscal year 25 of about 1,200,000," the presenter said, attributing most of the drop to lower enrollment.
Why it matters: school funding formulas, federal program allocations and enrollment counts determine how much aid counties receive. Board members asked detailed questions about the assumptions behind local revenues, the district's reserves and the timing of federal allocations.
Staff noted the draft budget uses an estimated beginning balance of about $2,100,000 to help balance FY26 and that payroll and instruction comprise the bulk of spending. "The majority of our expenses are in instruction," the presenter said, adding payroll accounts for a large share of the fund's expenditures.
Board members pressed for specificity on the $670,000 item listed as "other local sources." The presenter said that figure includes interest, P-card rebates and small miscellaneous receipts — including an estimate of about $15,000 from disposable property such as scrap metal.
Board members also raised concerns about uncertainty in federal funding. "We do anticipate getting some money in Title 5 this year, but again, the federal government has not released...those figures," a staff member said, and added that federal program directors were told cuts are coming though the amount is unknown.
Questions about cash timing and vendor payments surfaced when trustees reviewed approved checks. One member flagged invoices that predated purchase orders and cited recent legislation on timely payments as a concern; staff responded that delays often stem from missing vendor paperwork and that the district receives a large invoice file to support claims.
On fund balance, the board heard that the unrestricted bank balance was "a little over $10,000,000" as of June 30, 2024, and the draft FY26 ending balance included in the budget is projected at about $2,100,000, though presenters said the actual end-of-year number is expected to be higher unless unexpected events occur.
The board did not adopt a final budget at the special meeting; staff said the figures are preliminary, the public may review the documents on the district website and additional adjustments may be required after federal allocations are finalized.
The board adjourned the special meeting at 5:50 p.m.; the regular meeting began at 6:00 p.m.
