Richmond Public Schools warns of $9 million shortfall; asks city for one‑time help

Superintendent Camrys told the Richmond City Education & Human Services committee the school division is facing a roughly $9,000,000 budget shortfall after the state removed around $7,600,000 in one‑time flexible funds from the final budget. "We are facing a roughly $9,000,000 deficit," Camrys said, describing a squeeze worsened by the General Assembly’s 4% teacher raise, for which the locality must pick up a large share of the cost.

Why it matters: Camrys and school board chair Shavonda Fernandez said the timing and design of state funding changes force immediate choices that could affect staffing and services as the school year approaches. Fernandez asked the committee to explore emergency or one‑time city funding to preserve annual substitutes, mental‑health supports and other critical line items.

What the division said it will do: Camrys said RPS is trying to avoid pay cuts, layoffs and furloughs. The division will implement a 2% salary increase plus a 1.17% step increase (3.17% total) rather than the full 4% the state approved, and is examining options including eliminating the annual substitute role, reducing vacancies, trimming nonessential spending, and, in some secondary classrooms, modest class‑size changes. He cautioned many changes cannot be accomplished close to the start of school.

Numbers and timing: Camrys said the division is tentatively scheduled to meet again July 23 to finalize actions and urged that any demonstrable funding commitment from the city be communicated quickly so RPS can incorporate it into budgeting. He warned that some projects and funding windows are time‑sensitive — for example, $12.4 million in state funds for the Woodville rebuild must be committed to avoid reversion.

City response and next steps: Chair Cherry Lynch asked administration to work with council leadership and RPS to form a vehicle for collaborative review and oversight. Staff recorded an action for the administration to provide a comprehensive briefing on the 1% sales tax and related financing questions by the July 27 meeting and to coordinate an early preview of the RPS facilities master plan when available.

What remains unresolved: The committee and RPS did not adopt emergency city funding at the meeting; members agreed to convene stakeholders and review potential one‑time options and implementation timelines before making formal appropriations or ordinance changes.