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County finance staff present seven FY27 school budget options that raise pay and defer part of capital ask
Summary
County Finance Facilitator Karen Pica presented seven FY27 School Board proposals that include teacher and staff pay increases, a technology refresh, a new NES playground, phased fleet replacement and well repairs; staff identified $500,000+ in cuts and $300,000+ in likely excess revenue that could free a $286,000 capital-planning item.
County Finance Facilitator Karen Pica told the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 19 that the school division had prepared seven budget proposals for fiscal 2027, each aimed at prioritizing student learning while increasing compensation and addressing capital needs.
Pica said every proposal funds higher pay for teachers and staff, an essential refresh of classroom technology, a new playground at NES, a phased fleet replacement and repairs to school wells. She said division leaders and principals identified more than $500,000 in potential cuts and that staff captured prior-year bills not previously budgeted.
Pica provided revenue projections showing federal and state revenue at $7,471,746 and County revenue at $14,855,244. She said staff have identified revenue likely to exceed $300,000 and that, as a result, a $286,000 capital-planning request is no longer needed under some scenarios, freeing those funds for other uses or reserves. Pica clarified the school will remain part of the capital planning process and that certain school-held revenues could be used to reduce citizens’ direct capital costs; she added there is currently no formal process to return school revenue to a reserve fund.
Pica warned of a long-term cost trajectory: if the County continues approving budgets with ongoing salary increases and fully covered health insurance, "in three years the salary and benefits alone will be greater than the entire school budget two years ago," and the County needs to "break the cycle and look into other models," she said.
Superintendent Leslie told the Board the School Board voted for a 2.5% compensation increase and to absorb a 10% health-insurance cost rise; the superintendent said staff will continue searching for further savings to avoid raising taxes. The school has not yet received Virginia Retirement System (VRS) rates for FY27.
Chairman James W. Brann and County Administrator Luttrell Tadlock discussed well repairs: Tadlock confirmed that the repair referenced by the schools is funded from a separate SNAP account and is not included in the County-side budget calculations. Dr. Leslie added that the division uses a multi-year savings plan for a second well replacement on a nine-year cycle and that those savings are part of the $286,000 capital-planning pool discussed earlier.
Finally, Vice Chairman Chip Williams asked staff to model a 13.3% health-insurance scenario in the projections; Pica said she could update the projections once choices about plans are finalized.
The Board heard the presentation at the special meeting and will consider the proposals and supporting materials posted in BoardDocs as it moves toward formal budget decisions.
