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Public hearing held on FY2027 county and school budgets; school leaders ask for added funding for counselors and capital
Summary
County staff presented the proposed FY2027 budgets and tax rates; public commenters including the school superintendent and school-board vice chair asked for additional local funding to support elementary renovations, three school-based mental-health counselors, and teacher recruitment/retention measures.
The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing April 20 on the proposed FY2027 county and school budgets and the 2026 county tax rates. County staff said the budgets reflect efforts to maintain services, address staff compensation, and fund capital projects while revenue growth remains flat.
Mr. Stanley summarized major items in the proposed county budget, including full cost of a joint dispatch with the town of Farmville, radio-system debt service, funding for volunteer fire department insurance and reporting software, a capital contribution for an animal shelter, and school capital improvements funded by meals tax revenue. He noted the county must wait seven days after the public hearing to act by state law.
Prince Edward County Public Schools superintendent Chip Jones and school-board vice chair Susan Kimbrough spoke in support of the proposed budgets but also requested additional local funding. Jones asked the board to consider an additional $400,000 in local funding for the elementary-school renovation and to support three full‑time school mental‑health counselors (one for elementary, middle and high school), arguing those investments support student well‑being and recruitment/retention of staff. "Every dollar and every minute that you provide is an investment in the heartbeat of our community," Jones told the board.
Board members asked clarifying questions about use of fund balance, health insurance cost increases (staff noted a recent 23% estimate), and the timeline for appropriations. No members of the public signed up to comment beyond school representatives, and the public hearing was closed; the board scheduled formal adoption and appropriations consideration for its meeting on April 21, 2026.
What follows: the board will consider adoption and appropriation at its next scheduled meeting after the statutory waiting period; staff will continue to refine appropriation items such as joint communications costs and school CIP funds.
