by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
Fredericksburg City Public Schools expects to receive more funding from the state of Virginia for next fiscal year than originally anticipated, but there is still a gap of about $1.5 million between proposed revenues and expenditures.
The School Board on Friday morning approved the budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, after delaying that action for several weeks in order for staff to get more clarity about school funding from the General Assembly.
The board unanimously approved superintendent Marci Catlett’s recommended $59 million operating budget, which includes about $1.7 million more in state funding than was first expected.
Catlett said this increase is based on a budget amendment proposed in conference between the House of Delegates and Senate that would provide for a 3% raise for standards of quality-funded positions, new at-risk funding for high-poverty schools and a new tiered staffing standard for English language learners that aims to increase support for these students.
She said it is “important to note that there may be adjustments made by the governor to change the new funding amount,” and that “further adjustments may be necessary when a final budget is adopted.”
Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody’s proposed budget recommends about $1.7 million in new funding for the school division over the current fiscal year.
The total amount of local funding proposed for the school division is $32.4 million, and the total amount requested by the school division is $33.9 million.
The School Board and City Council are scheduled to hold a joint work session on the budget on April 2 at 6 p.m.
