ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke City Public Schools is working to finalize the 2026-27 budget before a March 10 deadline as it faces a $16.5 million shortfall that could force deep program and staff cuts.
The gap stems largely from a change in the city’s school funding formula that reduced the schools’ share of local tax revenue from 40% to 34%. The budget proposal under review would eliminate more than 150 positions, stop activity buses for after-school programs and end or make cuts to Plato, the school system’s gifted and talented program for third- through fifth-graders.
Chris Perkins, Chief Operations Officer for Roanoke City Public Schools, said school leaders do not want the proposed cuts…