Fiscal Year 2028 Budget
Welcome to the Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) 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.
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.
For questions, reach out to the budget team here.
Adopted FY28 School Board Budget Priorities
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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.
Questions regarding the budget can be directed to budget@staffordschools.net