Bedford County board adopts FY2627 budget amid warnings of larger reversion shortfall

At the March 12 meeting the Bedford County School Board approved the division’s proposed FY2627 operating budget and related adjustments. Superintendent Mr. Depair and finance staff described priorities embedded in the budget: phased compensation adjustments to remain regionally competitive, retaining School Resource Officers (SROs) at elementary campuses by locally funding those positions, and launching elementary in‑school suspension pilots to support behavior and instruction.

Staff and the superintendent repeatedly emphasized that the approved FY2627 budget reflects constrained revenue assumptions and that the division is approaching a substantial multi‑year reversion risk. The superintendent said the division could face an estimated $2.9 million shortfall at the end of reversion in FY28 unless additional funding sources are identified. The presentation broke the FY2627 needs into two categories: inflationary/ongoing costs (insurance increases, state salary adjustments and step increases) and needs-based requests (local supplement for competitive pay, SRO funding at 13 elementary schools and one specialized campus, and elementary ISS implementation at two campuses).

Board members voted to approve the FY2627 budget motion as presented. During discussion members asked for clarity about contingency planning in the event county or state funding fell short and staff said recurring savings analyses (such as the Stewartsville decommissioning scenario) could be applied if revenue gaps persisted. The board and executive staff also committed to continued discussions with the Board of Supervisors about potential county funding and to returning to the board with further options if state or local revenue estimates change.

The vote on the budget was recorded by voice vote; the motion carried. The board instructed staff to maintain a conservative forecasting posture moving into reversion years and to prioritize protections for classroom educators and mandated supports.