$1.8B Budget Proposed For Loudoun County Public Schools

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County schools superintendent Aaron Spence proposed a $1.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 at a recent school board meeting. The proposed budget would average $21,789 in per pupil spending.

The proposed budget would be a 9.4 percent increase from 2024's approved budget. The majority of spending, about 90 percent of the operating budget, would account for personnel costs.

"This proposed operating budget provides us with the resources we need to run the school division every day and allows us to offer a competitive salary and benefits package to employees,” Spence said. “Our ability to offer attractive salaries and benefits packages bolsters our ability to recruit and retain an exemplary workforce.”

Spence's proposed budget includes a 4 percent cost of living adjustment and a 4 percent "strategic teacher scale adjustment." The budget also includes a one-time bonus of 1 percent for full-time employees.

In a presentation to the school board, Spence outlined concerns about funding. A report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) noted that Virginia school divisions lag behind national averages in funding.

"It is incumbent upon us as a community to advocate at the state level for appropriate education funding,” Spence said. “Should the final State budget include some of the JLARC recommendations, it could provide additional funding to LCPS, and would help us to push forward in meeting our OneLCPS strategic plan goals of having empowered students, an exemplary staff, an enriched division, and an engaged community."

Public work sessions for the budget are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, Jan. 30, and Feb. 1 at the school system's boardroom. There will be no public comments at these work sessions.

A full public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6. Anyone wishing to participate should review the school board's guidelines for public comment.