School systems across Virginia are developing their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Although they’re still waiting on state lawmakers to finalize the state budget, local boards are already making hard decisions – some harder than others.
Roanoke city public schools are looking at a potential $14 million budget gap. Last month, the city school board approved a plan to eliminate roughly 170 positions across the school division, including 65 positions that are currently filled. Kathleen Jackson is the school system’s chief financial officer. She says those cuts are coming as the school budget is squeezed from rising costs and slowing revenue growth.
“About 75% of our budget is people,” Jackson says. “Salaries and benefits are the biggest driver of costs. Health insurance costs go up exorbitantly annually. That is an ongoing concern.”…