Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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 state funding when personnel and allotments are included. The district is modeling multiple scenarios and said roughly 80 positions are implicated in current modeling—many described as frozen or vacant positions that the district hopes to reallocate rather than eliminate outright.
Finance emphasized efforts to limit involuntary job losses, saying some cuts can come from frozen vacancies and reallocation. The briefing also highlighted the assistant‑principal allotment methodology (months of employment divided by a divisor—cited as about 98.53) and the district’s need to restore a small number of AP positions in many buildings.
The finance team described a portfolio of actions already underway: accelerated payoff of a USDA child‑nutrition loan using community donations, prioritization of exceptional‑children (EC) supports, and department budget submissions that leaned conservative (many departments submitted flat budgets). Staff said they will present a set of three budget proposals—minimal, moderate and high asks—so the board can consider an ask package to present to Forsyth County commissioners.
Key unknowns remain: the state allotment formula, the state budget, teacher pay impacts, and the county’s final funding level. Staff proposed additional workshops (April 7–8) before the April 14 vote so the board can see draft numbers and ask detailed questions.
"What we're trying to do is create a budget that's based on what we feel like is the minimum that we can get from our commissioners and then maybe a moderate ask," the superintendent said, describing a tiered approach the district will take if the county provides additional revenue.
The board asked staff to return with concrete scenario spreadsheets at the next workshop and to include the survey results showing community priorities (EC supports and AP restorations were frequently cited) when framing their funding requests to the county.
