14-05-2025
Roanoke City School Board facing 'hard decisions' before finalizing budget
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Roanoke City School Board members met Tuesday to hear budget updates after City Council made the final decision to approve level funding.
The school district will receive the same money from the city as they did last year, but they had already factored in extra funds when they presented their budget in March. The city also voted Monday night to change their annual funding for schools from 40% of local taxes received, to 'up to' 40%.
The district's Chief Financial Officer shared new costs for the next fiscal year, like the 40 additional English Learner teachers required by the State, and possible cuts, like the 13 elementary school Spanish teachers who will be trained to fill some of those English Learner teacher jobs.
Budget recommendations made to Roanoke City Council
Tuesday night, the CFO Kathleen Jackson proposed using about $9.35 million from the fund balance, or rainy day fund.
In March, the district originally wanted to use almost $3.8 million. After receiving level funding locally, they're tacking another almost $6.7 million onto that. They reported a $881,000 variance in State funding between what they'd planned for in March and the number they were quoted in May, so Jackson added that. The district cut close to $2 million in expenditures, which was subtracted from the total they want to use from the fund balance.
Jackson says the board will continue to meet with City leadership about the budget and whether or not they'll have access to the fund balance.
Final budget considerations will be presented to the School Board May 27, and the Board will approve a final budget June 10.
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