Spotsylvania County School Board adopts $485.8 million FY2026 budget, freezes 48 positions pending state funds

The Spotsylvania County School Board voted 5-0 on April 28 to adopt a provisional fiscal year 2026 budget and capital improvement plan totaling $485,819,263, after a presentation by Mr. Trayer and brief discussion about a temporary 0.5% reduction in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to cover state- and federally-mandated positions.

Board members highlighted a strong local transfer from the county and expressed frustration that the state budget had not been finalized. "Tonight, we are here to seek approval of the FY 2026 budget," Mr. Trayer told the board as he summarized state and local funding assumptions and the reconciliation steps staff used to balance the budget.

Why it matters: The board approved operating and capital spending that will take effect July 1, 2025, while acknowledging a short-term pay adjustment for employees to ensure required positions are funded. Trustees said they intend to restore the 0.5% reduction in the FY2027 budget if additional state funding materializes.

Presentation and numbers Mr. Trayer told the board that state budget negotiations in Richmond were not finalized and that the uncertainty required conservative assumptions. He described a range of proposals for the state "support cap" that, depending on enactment, could change Spotsylvania’s state support by several million dollars: at one point he said the general-assembly approach equates to roughly $4,800,000 more in state support for the division, while a governor-proposed scale-back would reduce state support by about $3,000,000. He also described agreed special-education funding of about $1,200,000 and technical adjustments related to school breakfast reimbursements.

On the local side, Mr. Trayer said the Board of Supervisors recommended local transfers to schools of about $170.85 million (presentation text gave $170,849,000 and the draft resolution lists $170,849,521), which he described as the largest year-over-year increase the supervisors have provided. The draft resolution recited an all-funds total of $485,819,263 and set the operating budget and fund line items to become effective July 1, 2025.

Compensation, required positions and balancing Mr. Trayer described compensation elements incorporated into the budget: a 2.5% COLA (as currently planned in the division’s calculations), step adjustments for teachers and paraeducators, a 2% merit increase for staff not on an active scale, and market adjustments for maintenance staff and school administrators. He said local match funding for a state-sponsored 3% COLA and other adjustments result in a total staff compensation increase in the presentation of about $8.7 million.

Because state funding remains uncertain, the reconciliation reduces the immediate COLA by 0.5% to free approximately $1.3 million to fund required state and federal positions (special education, English learners, CTE), the SCTC nursing position and market adjustments for eligible maintenance employees. Mr. Trayer said those 48 frozen positions are intended to be temporary and that the board will seek to "make up this 0.5%" in the FY2027 budget if additional state support arrives.

Board questions and responses Dr. Carol Medawar disclosed a personal interest in a transaction involving the division due to employment of a family member and asked that the disclosure be recorded in the minutes; she told the board she nonetheless believed she could participate in deliberations under cited Virginia Code provisions. Dr. Medawar then asked how certain staff were that the 0.5% would be restored; Mr. Trayer said staff need to issue contracts now to avoid sending two different contracts to employees and expressed confidence that the new state biennium in 2027 would yield additional funding and that employees would ultimately be made whole.

Miss Cole, participating remotely, asked for exact COLA figures. Mr. Trayer responded: "2.5% COLA plus a step for teachers and a step for paraeducators," and said the teacher scale modernization phase 1 is included to move scales toward local market levels.

Motion, resolution reading and vote After discussion, a motion to approve the FY2026 budget "as amended and presented this evening" was made and seconded. Mr. Trayer read the resolution aloud, which included whereas clauses, the all-funds total of $485,819,263, and detailed fund and program line items. On roll-call vote the board approved the resolution 5 to 0.

Closed session and personnel action The board then convened a closed meeting to consider personnel matters under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1). After returning to open session and certifying compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the board moved to take action on items discussed in closed session and voted to approve the HR packet (recorded vote passed 4 to 0). The minutes record that Miss Cole was not on the line for part of the post-closed-session vote; the board chair completed the roll call.

What’s next The board’s adopted FY2026 budget and capital improvement plan are effective July 1, 2025. Trustees said staff will bring any additional state funds that arrive to the board for appropriation and prioritization in accordance with the budget matrix. The meeting then adjourned.