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RCPS CFO previews budget: $6.7M revenue shortfall, one‑time city reappropriation to address capital needs
Summary
Roanoke City Public Schools CFO Kathleen Jackson told the board the division is forecasting about $6.7 million below budget in state revenue (driven by lower enrollment) while expenditures are tracking about $6.1 million below budget; city reappropriations totaling $4.3 million were described for ADA work and longer-term capital projects.
Kathleen Jackson, the division chief financial officer, told the Roanoke City School Board on Aug. 11 that the school system’s preliminary June 30 accounting shows a revenue shortfall primarily tied to lower enrollment projections.
"We are forecast to be about 6,700,000 below budget," Jackson said, speaking to the board as it reviewed FY26 period-12 figures and prepared a FY27 preview. She said the division is also tracking roughly $6.1 million under budget on expenditures, leaving a preliminary potential gap of about $600,000 after year‑end adjustments and accruals.
Jackson said the board’s adopted budget anticipated a 2% state salary share but that the General Assembly included up to 4% if districts could provide the local share. She also noted the division used a funded-average-daily-membership estimate of 12,700 for state funding calculations and that the first official enrollment measurement will be Sept. 30.
On local funding, Jackson outlined city council reappropriations. "Council did approve reappropriating a portion of funds … in the amount of 4,300,000," she said, explaining that the board is proposing to add $400,000 to maintenance for ADA accessibility at six schools and to place the remaining $2.6 million into the capital fund for longer-term projects such as the Roadtec roof and Monterrey elevator work.
Board members asked whether reappropriated funds are project-specific. Mister Kacknis asked, "On the 6.7 that was reappropriated for continuing projects, if our number comes in under that, is that reappropriation project-specific, or would that be available for other projects?" Jackson replied that appropriations were finite and project-based but that the board could ask council for permission to reallocate any remaining funds.
Jackson also reviewed the food services fund and capital fund balances: the food services fund was forecast to be below budget on revenue (about $760,000) but below budget on expenditures as well, which would reduce the anticipated draw on fund balance; the capital fund showed roughly $5.3 million remaining as of June 30, subject to post‑period bills and accruals.
The board treated the presentation as information; Jackson said a budget amendment will be brought for approval in September once year‑end numbers and reappropriation accounting are finalized.
