Stafford Parents Push for School Funding as Board Eyes No-Tax-Increase Budget

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors is considering a zero-tax-increase budget for 2025, which has drawn community members’ support and concern. During the February 4, 2025, meeting, parents and education advocates urged the board to fund Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) fully, emphasizing the need for higher teacher salaries, facility repairs, and student resources.

Parents Demand More Investment in Schools

Speaking during the public comment period, Shannon Fingerholtz, a parent from the Hartwood District, called on the board to take responsibility for properly funding Stafford schools.

“Our students, our teachers, our staff, our community require a quality school system,” Fingerholtz said. “Quality means decently paid staff, buildings in good repair, and adequate materials. These all require funding.”

She emphasized that regardless of whether funding comes from local taxes, state allocations, or federal grants, it ultimately comes from the same taxpayers.

“I’ve heard multiple times about more money needing to come from the state, which sounds great and all. But what’s not explained to constituents is whether the money comes from the state, the federal level, or the county, all that money still comes out of the same pockets—all of ours.”

Fingerholtz also criticized what she described as misleading rhetoric surrounding education funding.

“So this year, let’s stop with smoke screens and call a spade a spade. I’m asking the board to own the responsibility to our educators and kids and not color the picture that it’s better for us if the money comes from the state or from donations or from the federal government. Because however you label the money, it’s really just coming out of our pockets.”

She urged the board to fully support the upcoming school budget request.

“The ask will be big. And I ask that when it’s presented to you, you will have the integrity to accept the responsibility and approve it.”

A Growing School System Faces Financial Strains

The funding debate comes as Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) grapples with financial challenges tied to continued student enrollment growth and increasing demand for specialized services.

In a January 28 presentation, Superintendent Dr. Daniel Smith unveiled the school system’s funding request for fiscal year 2026 (FY26), calling for additional resources to support Stafford’s expanding student body. With 32,000 students—19.2% of the country’s population—enrolled in SCPS and an expected growth of 6,200 more over the next decade, the school division is struggling to keep pace with rising demands.

The system is also seeing a surge in students requiring specialized services:

• Students with disabilities under 504 plans have nearly doubled in the past decade, now comprising 21% of the student body.
• The English learner population has increased by 211%, with over 4,700 students requiring specialized support.

“These aren’t just numbers; these are real children whose success depends on the support we provide today,” Smith told the school board.

To meet these needs, the FY26 budget proposal includes:

• 36 new English learners and special education teachers to meet Virginia’s Standards of Quality requirements.
• A 3% pay raise for all staff to retain high-quality educators.
• Expanded business, healthcare, and IT specialty centers offer workforce-aligned career training.
• Facility upgrades to accommodate the county’s rapidly growing student body.

However, the budget request still faces a $14.2 million funding gap, with total proposed expenditures of $490 million and expected revenue of $470 million.

While the state has proposed $10.5 million in funding and the county board has earmarked $5 million, the superintendent warned that it is insufficient to meet all of Stafford’s growing educational needs.

“If we don’t make the right investments now, we’re putting the future of our students and community at risk,” Smith said.

A Look at Last Year’s Budget

The Board of Supervisors increased school funding by $13 million in the previous budget cycle, citing a continued commitment to education. That increase allowed for across-the-board pay raises for school employees and provided capital funding for ongoing maintenance projects.

The FY2025-34 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) also reflected the county’s focus on education infrastructure, with funding for:

• High School #6 is slated to open in 2026 (continuing development).
• Elementary School #18 (beginning construction).
• Elementary School #19 (starting construction in FY2025).

Board Members Debate Tax Policy

During board discussions, Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch reaffirmed her stance against any tax increases, citing the nearly 30% increase over the past three years.

“It is budget season, and I want to thank my two fellow conservative board members, Supervisor English and Supervisor Baumke, for, at the retreat, we made it very clear that we did not want to see a budget presentation that created a tax increase on our residents this year,” Vnuch said.

However, Board Chairman Deuntay Diggs pushed back on framing the budget discussion as a political divide, saying county priorities must be considered alongside tax policy: “We can sit here today and say no tax increase, but if certain things come back and there are certain things that we need in this community, we’re going to have to look at that—all of us.”

The Stafford County School Board will finalize its FY26 budget on February 25, 2025, and the Board of Supervisors will ultimately decide whether to increase funding, cut school spending, or raise taxes when it finalizes its fiscal year 2026 budget in April.