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Greensville County schools present balanced $40M FY27 budget, ask for higher local contributions after state grant losses
Summary
Acting superintendent Yardley Ferguson presented a balanced FY2027 operating budget of just over $40 million and a 10‑year CIP, saying internal cuts of roughly $732,000 plus state funding losses mean the division is asking Greensville County and Emporia for higher local contributions to preserve services.
Yardley Ferguson, acting superintendent for Greensville County Public Schools, presented the division’s proposed FY2027 operating budget and capital improvement plan at a joint budget work session, saying the plan is balanced but depends on increased local contributions after reductions in state support and higher insurance and compensation costs.
Ferguson opened the presentation by emphasizing accreditation and student outcomes: “I am Yardley Ferguson, acting superintendent for Greensville County Public Schools,” and noted the division is 100% accredited with a graduation rate just over 91 percent. She described a line‑by‑line budget process beginning in July and said the FY27 operating budget is “just over $40 million,” built on an average daily membership the division used of about 1,844 pupils.
Why it matters: the division reported that although the net operating budget rises by roughly $135,000 year over year, the amount it must ask from localities increased much more. School leaders said the division identified about $732,000 in internal adjustments (staffing and program changes, contract adjustments, and other reductions) to keep the budget balanced, but mandatory costs and lost state grants shifted the local share higher. Ferguson said the current local requests are roughly $6.88 million from Greensville County and $4.95 million from the City of Emporia after incorporating state funding projections.
School staff told the panel the gap results from several factors: a state proposal of a 2 percent increase for SOQ‑funded positions, a projected 7 percent rise in health insurance premiums, and the end of a two‑year “All‑In Virginia” grant that funded reading tutors. Staff said the All‑In tutors are stopping this month after the grant was not continued by the new state administration. To avoid passing a larger bill to local governments, the division made internal cuts they estimate at about $732,000.
The presentation included enrollment context: Ferguson showed a seven‑year trend that peaked near 2,130 in 2018 and has declined since, with a September 30 snapshot cited in the presentation around 1,891 (fall 2024 and 2025 numbers were both discussed). Staff emphasized that March 31 ADM counts, not year‑end snapshots, determine state funding and that enrollment declines complicate staffing and funding decisions.
Budget priorities and CIP highlights: leaders said roughly 70–74 percent of the operating budget is dedicated to instruction. The capital improvement plan lists top priorities including bus replacements, stadium bleacher replacement, roofing work at GCHS, rooftop HVAC units at Wyatt Middle and a divisionwide HVAC controls upgrade. Presenters said several buses exceed 15 years and range from about 275,000 to 312,000 miles, and the CIP includes a longer‑term listing for a high school renovation or replacement among unfunded items.
Board and council members pressed staff for line‑item clarity and the source of funding reductions. Ferguson and finance staff responded that formula differences year to year, the loss of federal/state program funding and benefit cost increases together explain the shift in local asks despite a modest net operating increase.
The session closed without any vote on adoption; presenters asked leaders to consider coordinated advocacy to Richmond and to continue working with the city and county on capital funding strategies.
