Orange County Schools asks county for roughly $3.9 million in budget requests as enrollment dips

Orange County Schools officials presented a recommended operating budget to the school board that asks for $1,960,000 in continuation funding and about $1,900,000 in expansion money as the district prepares for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The presentation, delivered by district finance staff and Superintendent Dr. Jones, said the district is projecting a drop of roughly 174 students in the district enrollment and anticipates a decline in state funding tied to that enrollment change. "We are asking for, 1,960,000, for our continuation increase, which is 4% on our salaries as well as the benefit," the finance presenter said.

The continuation request is intended to cover a 4% salary-and-benefits adjustment and to offset inflationary increases in non-salary costs such as utilities and fuel; the expansion request would fund local supplement increases for teachers and classified staff, a proposed increase to bus-driver pay, and other local compensation changes the district described as important to retaining staff. Finance staff said the continuation request equates to about $254 per pupil and the combined continuation and expansion asks amount to roughly $504 per pupil.

Superintendent Dr. Jones framed the budget request as part of a multistep process: the board will give feedback and may approve a local operating budget on April 20; the district will then present the request to the county manager on April 30, whose recommendation will go to the county commissioners on May 5. Public hearings and a final county decision are expected before the June 16 state funding certainty date.

Board members pressed staff on how the district would balance the ask with uncertainty in the state budget and on tradeoffs if the county cannot fully fund the request. Finance staff said about $700,000 of previously authorized local funds already covered mandated raises the state did not fully fund; they described roughly $900,000 held in reserve that would be designated for staff increases if state action remains unsettled.

The presentation also called out transportation funding as an area facing reductions tied to the state's efficiency and allotment calculations; staff said they were reviewing operations for potential cost savings but cautioned that service cuts could be disruptive.

The board did not take a final vote on the budget at the meeting; staff will return with next-step recommendations after board feedback and as county and state funding clarity develops.