The Henry County School Board heard a comparison of its approved FY27 budget with the funding approved by the Henry County Board of Supervisors during its Aug. 6 meeting.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Administrative Services Dr. Ben Boone said the school board approved a $120,663,759 budget that included increases from the previously approved General Assembly budget of $2,074,654 and $615,361 in local funding.
The budget went before the Board of Supervisors for approval at its July 28 meeting.
“The local share amount of $615,361 requested would not be fully funded with the presented amounts of the county administrator. What was presented to the board of supervisors by the county administrator was $532,239 of FY25 carry forward funds to be used to fund the increase in local shares,” Boone said.
Boone said the amount approved by the supervisors was $83,122 less than what the school division requested.
In the spring, Boone said the board of supervisors approved providing the school division $207,000 over the required local share, bringing the local share to $24,968,216.
“The amounts presented at the July 28 meeting to the board of supervisors again would be $83,122 less than the total amount over local share than what would be provided and what was approved by the board of supervisors in April. At the same time, using carry forward dollars to fund the increase in local share,” Boone said.
At the July 28 meeting, Boone said it was recommended that the board of supervisors redirect FY25 carry-forward funds to meet the local requirements.
“I do want to point out that our interpretation of the carry forward funds from FY25 is different than how county administrative staff interprets the makeup of these funds. These funds that are carried over are funds that consist of revenues that are received from the state for school expenditures,” he said.
For FY25, Boone said $20,146,276 was provided to the school system to match the local share.
“This is after you subtract debt services and additional appropriations made in January that year to match state funds for preschool programs. With the final calculation tool that was provided by the Virginia Department of Education on June 5, 2025, the local share requirement was $19,941,969,” he said.
When the original FY25 budget was passed, Boone said the county provided only the required local share.
“It was zero dollars over local share at that time,” he said.
After subtracting the difference from FY25, Boone said $24,307 could be considered local funds out of the total $532,239 in carry-forward school funds.
“This leaves $327,932 that would be state funds at the very least in my opinion that should have been redistributed back to the schools in FY26,” he said.
Boone said the school division requested that FY25 carry-forward funds be reappropriated to the FY26 budget in March for the installation of generators at Drewry Mason, Axton and Mt. Olivet elementary schools.
“I just want to point out the importance of the generators. The other night, power went out at Bassett High School” when freshman orientation was going on. “The generators kicked in, and we were still good to go with freshman orientation,” he said.
Boone said the board of supervisors voted against appropriating the $532,239 from the school division’s FY25 unexpended funds for the installation of the generators in a 3-2-1 vote.
The board of supervisors will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. to consider amending the budget.
Board member Ben Gravely, of the Iriswood District, asked whether the Board of Supervisors would allow public comment at the hearing.
“Absolutely,” Boone replied.
“They will entertain speakers, but they have not requested of us to share further,” Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Blake-Lewis said.
“That’s typical,” Chairman Teddy Martin, of the Reed Creek District, said.
Gravely said school board members could attend and speak at the public hearing later this month.
In other matters, the board:
*Approved the consent agenda.
*Heard legislative updates from Government and Legislative Relations Liaison Jason Kessler.
*Approved an additional appropriation of $235,425 to the FY27 school nutrition budget for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
*Heard the superintendent’s report.
*Heard committee reports.
*Approved the personnel report and addendum as presented.
*Approved the religious exemptions.
Caption:
The Henry County School Board heard Dr. Ben Boone explain differences between the school division’s approved budget and funding approved by the Board of Supervisors.
