Many residents and parents have been upset by circulated incorrect statements regarding school funding for fiscal year ’27, which begins July 1, 2026. To increase understanding on funding schools in Virginia, some facts about local government budgeting and corrections about the proposed budget may help.
The state created a division of responsibility for operating and funding schools in Virginia. The school board creates a proposed budget based on what they think will result in the best outcome for students. The board of supervisors holds the taxing power and must decide the amount which will be transferred to the schools and the amount to pay for other county services. Both boards take their tasks seriously.
There is a budget guideline for transfer of some portion of new money each year to the schools. The old 60-40 split from the 1980s was designed at a time when the County was mostly rural, had a tiny police department, no paid fire staff and the schools were the only major transfer.
Times are different now. The population changes have been dramatic. When I was born in 1950, there were 26,000 residents in Albemarle. The 2020 census counted 112,395. The last two years have added even more residents, and the need for services has skyrocketed.
With more than twice the residents than in 1980, today there are 969 local government employees providing service. In public safety, ACPD received and answered more than 93,000 calls for service in 2025. Services are also provided in fire and rescue, health and welfare, and the IT department, to name a few. ACPS is one of six departments the local government manages and funds. See page 113 in the Proposed Budget to see the positions by department.
The Friday, March 20 call-out letter from the School Board to parents describes recent transfers to schools as “nominal.” This is contradicted by the details provided by the finance department to the board of supervisors, school board and staff December 1, 2025.
From FY ’18 thru FY ’26, operating transfers totaled $1,435,056,825. This is an increase of the base over those years of $96,426,616.
In addition, the local government payment for school debt over the last six years totals $96,452,282.
Also in FY ’26, an additional $6M local government transfer paid for increases in school employee health insurance coverage. The schools did not have to find this money in their budget.
On page 14 of the March 18 budget work session presentation, the truth is clear. The county executive proposes a transfer of $304,900,000, which is an increase of $20,700,000 or 7.3% over FY ’26. This is a far cry from cutting funding for schools or reducing funds for operations.
There are fewer students now, yet an increase in funding is requested. In 2015 for the 2016-17 fiscal year, the school division had 13,677 students and 2,462 employees (teachers and classified). For FY 2027 the current school board funding request is built for 13,668 students and 2,821 employees. Today the schools have 357 more employees but fewer students. Are these teachers or administrators? The per pupil expenses were $12,200 in 2012 and are over $22,000 today.
It is curious that protests over a change in the split for increased revenue, which has varied from the outdated standard in 17 of the last 26 years, gets more emphasis than the huge increases in real dollars already proposed for school operations. In addition, changes in the state Local Composite Index will bring in more state money for schools, and a reduced bill to the Virginia Retirement System will cut school costs, totaling $11M. More than $4M of this will be used for operations of two new schools.
The County Executive has proposed to put $6.4M into reserves in FY ’27, as savings to plan ahead for 2028 when a new composite index will be released. In the event the next composite index shifts negative for the County, savings may prevent a funding hole for the schools. If the composite index continues favorable to the County, there will be a nest egg towards the $25-30M needed to start planning for a new first priority—a northern high school that was announced in December.
In the March 20 school board letter to parents, all of the proposed cuts were aimed at students and teachers, none for administrators. The School Board chooses the priorities for spending. They are accountable to the voters to explain their choices and the performance of their department.
The Board of Supervisors does not have a role in school operations, only in funding. The funding increases year after year for falling populations of students, and ever-increasing per pupil expenses are not sustainable.
One sure bet is that the near-term future is uncertain. Care with spending is essential. Our taxpayers depend on it.
Ann Mallek
White Hall District Supervisor
Earlysville
