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District budget briefing: 1,551 fewer students and modeling shows steep state funding loss
Summary
Finance staff warned the board that a 1,551‑student decline in enrollment drives an estimated $11 million reduction in state funding under the 'funding‑in‑arrears' model; staff outlined scenarios that could affect roughly 80 positions (largely frozen/vacant) and said they will present multiple budget options ahead of an April 14 vote.
District finance staff presented a detailed budget briefing that highlighted sharp enrollment declines and their likely fiscal consequences for the 2026–27 budget.
Stacy Long, the district’s new executive director of finance, and other staff explained how North Carolina’s funding‑in‑arrears model bases next year’s allocations on this year’s official average daily membership (ADM). That system, they said, compounds the effect of falling enrollment: "we're down 1551 students from last year," a presenter reported.
Staff projected the enrollment decline and formula changes could translate into roughly an $11 million reduction in…
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