York County school board forwards proposed FY2027 operating budget after 4–1 vote

The York County School Board voted 4–1 on March 23 to approve Resolution 26-17, the division’s proposed fiscal year 2027 operating budget, and to forward the proposal to the York County Board of Supervisors for their review.

Board members said the proposal reflects months of staff work, two board budget work sessions and public input. “The budget development of fiscal the fiscal year 2027 budget began in October,” Chief Financial Officer Mr. Bowen told the board, summarizing the timeline, public hearings and next steps for final adoption.

The proposed budget includes adjustments for higher enrollment, increased special education funding and a 3.5% salary increase budgeted for FY27; staff noted state and federal funding assumptions still must be finalized. Mr. Bowen said staff will return with final budget actions after state and county decisions: “Final budget actions will return to the school board once the state and county budget actions have been completed.”

During discussion, board members asked for clarification about projected revenues and the division’s process for handling unexpected operating cost increases such as fuel and utilities. The administration explained that unspent positions in instructional accounts typically provide a source of funds to transfer to operations if needed later in the fiscal year.

Motion and vote: Mrs. Goodwin moved to approve Resolution 26-17; Mr. Shafer seconded. The roll-call recorded Mr. Richardson, Mr. Shafer, Mrs. Goodwin and Mr. Pyevich voting yes; Mrs. Fairman voted no. The motion passed 4–1.

What happens next: The board’s approval sends the proposed budget to the York County Board of Supervisors for review at their upcoming hearing; the school division said final budget actions will return to the school board after the county and state complete their budget processes.

Budget context and notable line items presented earlier in the meeting included significant February expenditures and vendor payments presented by staff: instructional-related payments (~$566,515), payments to New Horizons ($84,930), SH Varsity ($126,880), Microsoft annual support ($98,000), Dominion Energy ($214,500) and food-service payments to Sodexo ($508,000). Those figures were presented as part of the claims certified for payment for February 2026.

The board will present the division’s budget to the Board of Supervisors at the scheduled county budget hearing and expects to return later with final appropriation requests once external funding levels are known.