Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

Welcome to the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget Development webpage. Stafford County Public Schools is committed to transparency and collaboration in the development of our budget. This page will provide updates, key dates, and resources to help you stay informed and engaged throughout the budget planning process.

• Fiscal Year 2027 Amended Budget - July 14, 2026
• Fiscal Year 2027 School Board Adopted Budget
• Fiscal Year 2027 School Board Adopted Budget Summary
• Fiscal Year 2027 School Board Approved Budget
• Fiscal Year 2027 Superintendent's Funding Request (FY27 Proposed Budget)

Understanding the Budget Documents

Stafford County's budget goes through a formal governance process involving the School Board and the Board of Supervisors. You'll notice multiple budget versions posted here. Each budget book represents a different stage in that process, and understanding the difference helps you see how the budget is developed and finalized.

Superintendent's Funding Request (also called the Proposed Budget)
This is the division's starting point. The Superintendent and Finance staff analyze staffing needs, program priorities, facility maintenance, and student enrollment to build a comprehensive budget request based on requests from schools and departments. This document shows what the Superintendent believes the division needs to fund all approved programs and meet adopted service standards. It goes to the School Board in January for review and discussion.

School Board Approved Budget (also called the Board's Funding Request)
After reviewing the Superintendent's request and community feedback, the School Board approves a budget that reflects the division's priorities. This is what the School Board formally requests from the Board of Supervisors. In other words, this is how much funding the School Board asks the county to provide.

School Board Adopted Budget 
In April, after the Board of Supervisors completes its own appropriation process and decides how much funding to allocate to schools, the School Board adopts a final budget. The Adopted Budget reflects what the division can actually fund with the appropriation it receives. If the Board of Supervisors appropriates less than the Board requested, the Adopted Budget will be smaller than the Approved Budget, and it may reflect adjusted priorities, delayed initiatives, or deferred staffing.

Budget Amendment
Due to Virginia adopting a budget after the County budget adoption, Stafford Schools amended the budget to reflect the additional state funding. A summary is reflected here due to the size of the change and the impact on operations and staffing. 

Why so many budget books? This structure ensures public transparency at each stage. Community members can see what the division asked for, what the community's elected supervisors decided to fund, and what the School Board ultimately can deliver with that appropriation.

For questions, reach out to the budget team here.

Budget Planning Timeline

The FY27 budget process involves input from stakeholders, careful planning, and alignment with the Stafford County School Board's priorities. Below is the full budget development calendar along with key dates to highlight.

Full Budget Development Calendar

Most Critical Dates for the FY27 Budget Process

September 2025

• September 16: Capital Improvement Plan Town Hall 

• September 30: PTA/PTO Budget Roundtable with School Board and Superintendent

January 2026

• January 27: Special Called Meeting: School Board receives the presentation of the Superintendent's Budget Request.

February 2026

• February 2: Superintendent delivers FY27 Funding Request to the School Board

• February 3: Budget Town Hall - School Board Chambers and Live Stream

• February 19: Special Called Meeting: School Board approval of FY27 Budget.
• February 26: Joint Board of Supervisors/School Board Meeting: Presentation of the School Board's FY27 funding request.

April 2026

• April 21: Board of Supervisors adopts the FY27 Budget, CY tax rates, and CIP.

• April 28: Special Called Meeting: School Board's consideration and adoption of FY27 Budget.

May 2026

• May 15: Legal deadline for School Board's FY26 budgets/funding approval from the Board of Supervisors.

These dates represent key milestones in the FY27 budget planning process.

Adopted FY27 School Board Budget Priorities

• Attract and retain high quality staff.

• Secure resources necessary to improve performance.
• Maintain facilities for safety and provide students with safe and enriching classroom learning environments.

Community Feedback Opportunities

Community input is vital to the budget process. Join us at the following town halls to share your thoughts and ask questions about the FY27 budget:

• Budget:
  • Date: February 3, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location: School Board Chambers, 31 Stafford Avenue/LiveStream
• Capital Improvement Plan 
  • Date: Tuesday, September 16
  • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location: School Board Chambers, 31 Stafford Avenue

Your voice is important in shaping the future of our community. We hope to see you there.

Questions regarding the budget can be directed to budget@staffordschools.net

Thank you for your interest in the FY27 Budget Development process. Together, we can ensure our resources are allocated to support the success of all Stafford County students.