Williamsburg-James City County Schools officially entered the latest budget season Nov. 11 as School Board members set the school division’s upcoming budget calendar.
Virginia state code requires WJCC to submit a balanced budget to the city and county annually on or before April 1. The next budget will cover the period from July 1 to June 30, 2016.
The school division’s budget process consists of three main phases. In the first, Superintendent Steven Constantino will recommend a proposed budget to the school board.
In the second phase, the school board will review Constantino’s recommendations, make any alterations, then submit an updated version to both the Williamsburg City Council and the James City County Board of Supervisors.
Phase three occurs when the school board adopts a final budget based on the funding authorizations and appropriations approved by the city and county.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Constantino said he was concerned the coming budget season would be a difficult one for WJCC, given the state of Virginia’s finances.
Constantino said the budget situation in Richmond was not good, calling it a “mini-crisis.”
He added comments made by Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton did not bode well for the coming fiscal year.
“I can tell when the state is preparing us for doom and gloom,” he said.
The school board is scheduled to approve the budget calendar at its Nov. 18 meeting.
The school board will hold its annual retreat Jan. 10 to discuss various issues, including the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
A pre-budget public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, during which members of the public are invited to provide input and feedback on the school division’s budget priorities and offer suggestions for the coming fiscal year.
Constantino is scheduled to present his budget recommendations to the school board Feb. 17.
A joint budget meeting between the school board, supervisors and council members is tentatively scheduled for early March, while a public hearing on the superintendent’s recommendations is scheduled for March 3.
The school board should approve a proposed budget March 17, with final adoption, based on city and county appropriations, set for May 19.
