Powhatan supervisors, county staff describe a roughly $367,000 remaining school shortfall after proposed transfer

County Attorney Kalli Jackson and budget staff described the county’s and the schools’ competing budget numbers at the March 5 workshop, with the school division requesting $34.7 million to balance its FY2027 budget and the county’s proposed transfer set at $33.5 million.

Jackson summarized the arithmetic and options: without the proposed county adjustment, the schools would face a $1.2 million shortfall, she said, and identified approximately $860,000 in potential expenditure reductions that could lower that gap. "[T]hat leaving an estimated remaining shortfall of about $367,000, subject to confirmation," Jackson said when describing the reconciliation steps.

Jackson also stated that last year the board provided $1.75 million above the schools’ request, noting a stated total figure of $30,857,560 in that context; the transcript records that phrasing as provided by Jackson. Board members asked whether the proposed transfer at the 77-cent rate reflects an equal 50/50 split between county retention and the amount passed to schools; county staff confirmed that the split and funding for certain LCI items are reflected in the presented model.

Supervisors pressed for tighter coordination on capital planning, and Will Hagy said the county is improving practices to better align cost estimates and scheduling with the schools. Hagy and other staff emphasized follow-up workshops in March to refine transfer amounts and reconcile outstanding questions.

Next steps: staff will continue coordination with the school division; the board scheduled additional budget and CIP workshops on March 11, 16 and other dates to refine numbers before the March 26 advertising decision.