Stafford board opens preliminary discussion of revenue-sharing agreement with county, cautions about negotiation and timing

Staff presented the concept of a revenue-sharing agreement that would allocate a share of county revenues to the school division in order to provide multi-year predictability and reduce uncertainty in the annual budget cycle.

"Revenue sharing is just an agreement between the local governments and the school division where a portion of the county revenue is allocated to the school division," a staff presenter said, noting the details — which revenue streams are included, whether only new revenues or the total base, and how to split operating vs. capital — would be negotiated.

Board members asked whether the county’s variable tax rate would still leave the division exposed (staff answered yes: the basket of revenues would still depend on the county’s total receipts and tax decisions). Members raised several practical negotiation points: whether a base ‘floor’ amount could be guaranteed, how to treat carryover funds, whether revenue sharing would include vehicle/personal property tax, and how to account for enrollment-driven capital needs (for example, funding the $10.5 million required this year to open new schools).

Staff said many localities use different formulas and that comparative examples were provided. They warned that a revenue-sharing agreement would require lengthy negotiation and that implementation realistically would begin no earlier than FY29.

No formal motion or agreement was made; board members were asked to submit suggestions to staff (for example, which revenue sources to consider) and staff will continue joint discussions with the Board of Supervisors.