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Palmyra Today
By the People, for the People
Fluvanna County School Board Proposes $530K Budget Increase for FY27
The proposal focuses on employee compensation, student supports, and staffing needs.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
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The Fluvanna County School Board has proposed a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that would increase the local funding request by $530,727, a 2.48% bump over the current year. The largest portion of the proposed increase would go toward employee pay and benefits, including a 3% salary increase and the division absorbing a projected 9% increase in health insurance premiums. The budget also includes funding for staffing additions, contract adjustments, and addressing the ongoing cafeteria deficit.
Why it matters
The school board's budget proposal reflects their focus on advancing the division's strategic goals and investing in employee compensation, student supports, and long-discussed staffing needs. This comes as school divisions across the country grapple with rising costs and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The details
The proposed $530,727 increase in local funding would go towards a 3% salary increase for all employees, absorbing a 9% increase in health insurance premiums, and funding various staffing additions and contract adjustments. The budget also includes a $300,000 placeholder to address the division's ongoing cafeteria deficit. These spending increases are partially offset by higher projected state revenue and a reduction in the employer contribution rate to the Virginia Retirement System.
- The school board is scheduled to vote on the budget on February 18, 2026.
- The board will present the proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors on February 25, 2026.
The players
Dr. Peter Gretz
Superintendent of Fluvanna County Schools.
Charles Rittenhouse
School board member representing the Cunningham district.
James Kelley
School board member representing the Palmyra district.
Georgianna Joslin
A community member who spoke during the public comment period.
What they’re saying
“This is not what it takes to survive. This is what we need in order to continue to move the division forward.”
— Dr. Peter Gretz, Superintendent
“I would support the schools absorbing the insurance for the employees. We'll make a cut somewhere else.”
— Charles Rittenhouse, School Board Member
“If you're routinely writing a big check and you don't have it in your budget line, you're doing yourself a disservice.”
— James Kelley, School Board Member
“Please ask for what you actually need. Pass a budget that reflects what is truly needed, not what feels safest to ask for. Our kids are worth it.”
— Georgianna Joslin, Community Member
What’s next
The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget on February 18, 2026, before presenting it to the Board of Supervisors on February 25, 2026.
The takeaway
The Fluvanna County School Board's proposed budget reflects their commitment to investing in employee compensation, student supports, and staffing needs, despite the ongoing financial challenges facing school divisions. This comprehensive budget proposal aims to move the division forward and ensure its continued success.
