Citizens Budget Advisory Committee urges 5% raise, long-term maintenance funding for Chesterfield schools

Bridal Patel, chair of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), presented the committee’s annual report to the Chesterfield County Public Schools board, urging the district to accelerate funding for employee compensation and long‑deferred maintenance as it develops its FY2027 plan.

The committee cited school visits and presentations from division staff to identify four ongoing priorities: teacher compensation and hourly wages, vacancies and hard‑to‑staff positions, long‑term strategies for major maintenance funding, and accelerating capital projects to address overcrowding and aging facilities. “The purpose of the CBAC committee is to assist CCPS board in the evaluation and allocation of resources to ensure high quality, effective, and efficient school division,” Patel said.

Lisa Mansfield, a CBAC member, told the board that while the district has made progress on compensation, Chesterfield still “falls short.” Mansfield said the proposed budget would bring starting teacher pay to $57,000 and the minimum hourly rate to $15.28 — levels she said remain below targets from the compensation study. “We fully support the 5% increase for employees reflected in the superintendent's proposed budget,” Mansfield said, while noting that the governor’s proposal at the state level provides only a smaller supplement for SOQ‑funded positions.

The committee backed specific financing steps the superintendent proposed: roughly $6.5 million toward debt service largely tied to a bus financing program designed to create a 15‑year replacement cycle, and a recommended one‑time infusion of funds for major maintenance. CBAC also signaled support for an approximate $10 million package to staff new schools and support related technology and operational needs.

Bill Baker, the Matoaka district representative on CBAC, emphasized the persistence of unfunded themes such as maintenance and compensation and praised the bus replacement solution. He pointed to a possible 1% local sales tax as one long‑term option, saying it could generate roughly $80 million if approved by local supervisors and voters.

Board member Steven Pronto referenced public feedback from a recent joint town hall in which a participant suggested a 3.7% increase would be sufficient. CBAC members defended the 5% proposal as necessary to remain competitive in teacher recruitment and retention, noting local labor‑market pressures.

The board thanked CBAC for its time and analysis; the presentation concluded with the committee offering to answer additional questions as the budget process proceeds. The board did not take action on the recommendations at the work session; the superintendent’s proposed FY2027 plan and the school division’s five‑year plan remained under consideration.