Northampton Schools Seek $1.05M in Additional Local Funding to Close Budget Gap

CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Northampton County Public Schools is asking for an additional $1.05 million in local funding to help close a projected budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026, citing rising costs and limited state support.

The request would bring the county’s contribution to $13.9 million—an 8.2% increase over last year’s $12.8 million allocation—as part of a proposed $27.8 million operating budget. The district says the extra funds are critical to support staff compensation, inflationary adjustments, and investments in student services and school facilities.

Key expenditures include a 1% average raise for teachers, to be coupled with a proposed 3% pay increase included in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s state budget. The school division is also proposing a step and scale adjustment that adds another 1%, aimed at boosting starting teacher pay to $52,000. Health insurance contributions would rise by $82,800.

Classified and administrative staff are also expected to benefit from a phased decompression process over the next two to three years.

While the state is contributing $311,606 in new funding, district officials say that figure is not enough to keep pace with rising costs—particularly given a 4.6% increase in the Local Composite Index (LCI), which determines a locality’s ability to pay for public education. The increase has been especially burdensome for Northampton County, where high value waterfront property values in places like Cape Charles skew the formula.

The district is also anticipating a decline in student enrollment, with average daily membership projected at 1,275 students. That reduction would cut state support by $193,539.

About $700,000 in lower-priority requests remain unfunded in the current budget draft. These include classroom furniture, new technology, instructional aides, and contract services.

The budget proposal is expected to undergo further discussion before being finalized and submitted for county approval.