Stafford Schools Seek $157M From County For 2025 Budget

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A $453 million budget for 2025 was proposed by Stafford County Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor this week. The proposed budget requests $157 million from the county, a $15 million increase from the previous year's county funds.

Taylor's budget included the third phase of a five-phase plan for staff investment. Every licensed staff member would receive at least a 3 percent raise. The average raise would be 5.2 percent. The budget also included at least a 3 percent increase in salaries for staff members without licenses.

"We are seeing the effects of postponing projects, and the effect a decline in funding has on student performance - neither scenario is positive," Taylor said. "When we were funded properly, such as we were in 2012, Stafford Schools ranked 15th in Virginia in student performance and 79th in per pupil expenditure. With a steady decrease in funding, we have spiraled to a dismal 68th place in performance and 111th of 132 school systems in Virginia in per pupil expenditures. The correlation speaks volumes."

In recent years, the school system has seen a decrease in funds from Stafford County. In 2011, 45 percent of the school system's budget was financed by the county. In 2024, that number had declined to 38 percent.

Taylor believes investment from the county is vital for student success.

"Our students, family, and community deserve a high quality school system. This clearly will not happen without a more significant investment," Taylor said. "There is a price tag for solving problems and it is time to pay the bill."

Taylor's budget also allots funds for each school "to properly provide for meaningful post-secondary outcomes for every student and ensure all are prepared for life after graduation."

"I have great faith in our teachers, administrators, and support staff and their commitment to preparing our students for life after high school,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately, nearly half of these dedicated team members cannot afford to live in Stafford County - much less pay their bills without relying on a second source of income. This is simply unacceptable. If we expect to retain high quality staff, we must invest in compensating them properly.”

Taylor and the school board will host several town halls in the coming weeks to elicit community feedback on the budget proposal.

Here is the schedule for the town halls:

• Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.
  • A.G. Wright Middle School
• Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.
  • Brooke Point High School
• Jan. 31 at 6 p.m.
  • Anthony Burns Elementary School
• Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
  • Grafton Village Elementary School

On Feb. 6, the school board will host a public budget hearing in their chambers at 7 p.m. At a Feb. 13 meeting, the board is scheduled to finalize a budget.