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Staff outlines how Youngkin’s proposed budget could change Augusta County school funding
Summary
District staff summarized Governor Youngkin’s Dec. 17 proposed budget, highlighting a $1.2 billion re-benchmarking of SOQ direct aid, a local composite index change for Augusta County, a proposed 4% biennial salary increase for teachers and changes to retirement contribution rates; staff emphasized the proposal is preliminary and subject to change in the General Assembly.
A staff member briefed the board on Governor Youngkin’s December budget proposal and the possible local effects.
Miss Mulheffer (S11) summarized the proposal released Dec. 17: a statewide roughly $1.2 billion adjustment to fully fund re-benchmarking of Standards of Quality (SOQ) direct aid, changes to sales-tax and lottery revenue allocations for education, an increase in the local composite index (LCI) for Augusta County from 0.3888 to 0.4040, a proposed 4% salary increase phased as 2% in FY27 and 2% in FY28, and a reduction in the retirement contribution rate to the Virginia Retirement System (from 14.21% to 12.2% in the materials presented).
"Right now, I'm looking at those calc tools that we received from the state, that tell us how much funding that we'll get based on our SOQ positions and the LCI," Mulheffer said, noting staff will provide more detailed projections at the board retreat and in February budget work sessions. She emphasized the budget is preliminary and changes are likely as the General Assembly considers House and Senate versions.
Board members asked whether re-benchmarking changed position counts (it does not; it changes the funding calculation) and requested the staff provide clearer estimates of local dollar impacts at upcoming budget sessions.
