The Prince William County Board of Supervisors indicated during its Tuesday meeting it could reduce the public school system’s budget by $31 million.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors indicated during its Tuesday meeting it could reduce the county public school system’s budget by $31 million.
During the nearly 8-hour long meeting, the board of supervisors indicated it would vote to reduce real estate tax bills from 90.6 cents to 85 cents per $100 in assessed value. Combined with a proposed cut to the county’s 3% meals tax, it could reduce the school system’s expected budget by $31.2 million.
In a news release Wednesday, the school system said it was aware of the publicly scheduled budget markup meeting, but did not know “a reduction of this scale would be considered.” It said the potential reduction could impact employee pay increases, after-school programs and a reduction in certain services.
The school board presented a $2.1 billion operating budget proposal last month — a nearly 10% increase compared to fiscal year 2026.
Supervisor Yesli Vega, a Republican representing the Coles District, continuously noted it wasn’t a significant cut.
“I don’t understand how we can sit up here and say that it’s a cut; it’s not a cut,” she said.
The county will raise the data center tax rate from $4.15 to $4.50 per $100 in assessed value, county’s budget director Dave Sinclair said.
“The schools are still short because they’re not getting that new $4.50,” Supervisor Chair Deshundra Jefferson said. “They’re not getting that 35 cents. They are losing money because we cut the meals tax, and they’re losing money because we cut the real estate tax rate. So what we’re going to be giving them will be less than what they expected and requested. So that’s why it is a cut.”
“I don’t want to balance our budget off the back of our students. That’s how I feel,” Jefferson said. “I hate balancing the budget on the backs of our employees.”
As a result of the changes tentatively made by the board Tuesday, the school division’s revenue from the county will drop to $1.087 billion.
The straw votes are not set in stone, Jefferson noted. The board of supervisors will vote on the proposed reduction and finalize the budget during its April 21 meeting.
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