Roanoke County schools present FY2026–27 budget as supervisors press on insurance and enrollment figures

Susan Peterson, director of finance for Roanoke County Public Schools, presented the school division’s adopted fiscal year 2026–27 budget to the county Board of Supervisors on April 28, saying the package prioritizes instruction and student supports while responding to rising costs.

Peterson told the board the budget as presented was adopted by the school board March 31 and that the increase is largely driven by state funding. She said personnel remains the largest share of costs, representing roughly 76% of the budget, and outlined targeted investments in special education, behavioral health and counseling. To balance the plan, she said the division deferred some capital maintenance, textbook adoptions and scheduled bus replacements that would otherwise have occurred this year.

The presentation included line-item figures for functional categories: instruction, noncategorical benefits (health and post-employment benefits), operations and maintenance, debt and transfers, technology, pupil transportation and other items. Peterson said the budget reflects a…