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Roanoke City School Board approves 2026–27 budget amid funding policy uncertainty
Summary
The Roanoke City School Board on June 9 approved a $270.4 million 2026–27 budget after administrators warned that recent city funding changes and the inability to carry a fund balance reduce the division’s purchasing power and add timing uncertainty to cash flows.
The Roanoke City School Board on June 9 voted to adopt its FY 2026–27 budget after a monthslong review of revenue assumptions, staffing changes and contingency planning.
Superintendent Dr. White framed the vote around recent changes to the city’s school‑funding policy and the resulting uncertainty for the division. "If this policy remains unchanged, Roanoke City Public Schools is projected to receive nearly $40,000,000 less over the next 5 years than we would have under the original 40% policy," Dr. White said, describing a shift from a 40% share of actual revenue to a smaller baseline plus a share of growth and quarterly appropriations that may delay funding releases.
The board discussed efforts to protect classroom positions while making reductions at the central office. Miss Jackson, presenting the budget, outlined the division’s revenue and expenditure forecast and noted the approved appropriated expenditure limit of roughly $270.4 million. She told the board that revenues were forecast about $5.2 million below budget through April while expenditures were projected to be about $1.9 million below, yielding a roughly $3.3 million projected deficit that the division can address with authorized use of fund balance if needed.
Board members praised staff for transparency through a difficult process. Vice Chair Cherry thanked the team for openness during budget deliberations. Several Board members emphasized that the administration had prioritized protecting school‑based positions and redistributing special‑area teachers more equitably by enrollment.
The adopted budget reflects both reductions and reorganizations at the central office: Dr. White listed eliminated positions (a chief role, two executive directors, multiple coordinators and support staff) and reclassifications that move some roles to grant funding, noting the division will absorb work through existing staff.
The motion to approve the FY 2026–27 budget was moved by Miss Watkins and seconded by Miss Trigg; it carried on a voice vote. The board will monitor state budget actions and said it may return with amendments should state or city revenues change.
The division will post the detailed budget book and supporting materials, and officials said audited year‑end numbers will follow later this fall.
