Prince William School Superintendent’s budget proposal rescheduled from Feb. 4 to Feb. 18

Prince William County School Board will hear the Superintendent’s proposed budget for 2015-16 on February 18 instead of two weeks earlier, as previously scheduled. Presentation of the proposed 2016-25 Capital Improvements Program will also be pushed back. The delays follow the cancellation of the January 21 School Board Meeting because of weather conditions.

Some budget discussion remains on the February 4 agenda. Board Members plan to provide the Superintendent with guidance to find program cuts to fill the widening gap left by state and county funding that has not kept pace with growing enrollment and inflation.

The latest challenge is the Board of County Supervisors recent tax rate guidance that would reduce 2015-16 School funding by $11 million below what was in the previously approved five year county plan. If implemented, the tax guidance would take a larger toll on school revenues each year. Over five years, PWCS revenue would be cut by more than $100 million, while enrollment and educational costs continue to grow.