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Stafford school board weighs quick appropriation if state budget is signed
Summary
Staff reported the General Assembly’s conference report was sent to Governor Spanberger on June 22; staff urged a special June 30 meeting to prepare an appropriation request to the Board of Supervisors if the governor signs the budget within the next week, citing potential additional special-education funding.
Staff presented a budget update after the General Assembly adopted its conference report on June 22 and sent it to Governor Spanberger for signature or veto. "The General Assembly, both sides of the General Assembly, the House and the Senate did adopt the biennial the conference report on Monday, June 22nd," Mr. Foreman said, adding the governor has seven days to act.
Foreman told the board that a state 'calc tool' that breaks down how line items are distributed to localities is required after adoption and is expected to follow within about 10 days, though staff said the tool has been delayed in recent years. "We are still waiting on that," he said, noting the tool determines how much Stafford will receive for specific line items.
The conference budget appears to include more state revenue than the division assumed when adopting its FY27 budget April 29, Foreman said, and it contains a targeted add-on for special education. "One of the pieces that, uh, was unexpected there was additional funding for special education," he said, urging the board to be ready to request appropriation from the Board of Supervisors.
Because the Board of Supervisors next meets July 7 and then not again until Aug. 18, staff recommended calling a special meeting as early as Tuesday, June 30, to review numbers and request appropriation so that supervisors could consider the request on July 7. Board members expressed concern about making large spending decisions on short notice and asked staff to circulate a list of previously deferred items and recommendations before any June 30 action.
Board discussion cited deferred priorities that could be affected by new funds, including safety and security officers for middle schools, bus purchases (which have long lead times), paraprofessional staffing and special-education supports. Foreman emphasized that any additional revenue would require appropriation before funds could be expended.
The board set a tentative special meeting time and asked staff to provide updated numbers and a clear list of deferred items and proposed uses for any recurring versus one-time funds. The next procedural step is for staff to circulate the deferred-items inventory and schedule materials for the June 30 meeting if the state budget and calc tool timing permit.
