Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) may receive $31 million less in funding than anticipated following the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) budget markup meeting on April 14, 2026. While this reduction is not yet final, it could require significant changes to the planned 2026–27 school year budget, including impacts to staffing, programs, and services that support students. The BOCS is scheduled to vote on April 21, 2026.
Overall county revenue allocated to PWCS has been reduced from the amount the BOCS informed the schools to build their budget, resulting in $31 million less funding than anticipated.
The BOCS approved an increase in the data center tax rate. However, the additional revenue generated was not included in the funding allocated to PWCS.
During its budget markup meeting, the BOCS conducted a straw poll that included a potential reduction of $31 million in funding for PWCS. A straw poll reflects preliminary positions and does not represent a final decision.
No. The reduction has not been finalized. The BOCS is scheduled to vote on the county budget on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
While the meeting was publicly scheduled, PWCS had not previously been informed that a reduction of this magnitude would be considered.
If approved, PWCS would be required to make significant, unplanned adjustments to its budget for the 2026–27 school year.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors and the Prince William County School Board first adopted a formal revenue-sharing agreement on December 8, 1998, establishing a long‑standing framework for the allocation of non‑agency or general County revenues to support the operation of Prince William County Public Schools. Under that agreement, the School Board is entitled to receive 57.23% of non‑agency or general County revenues.
Yes, in effect, the BOCS changed the terms of the deal by intentionally excluding increased data center revenue from schools.
Reductions of this size are not trimming “extra” spending. A $31 million reduction could require eliminating entire programs, departments, or services that every school relies on, such as staffing support, health services, transportation, and other direct student supports. Reductions at this level would have divisionwide impacts on schools, staff, students, and families.
For example, to understand the magnitude of this reduction, see the following:
The school division needs to allocate time to appropriately assess the impact of this reduction and review potential impacts. Potential impacts* may include:
*Possible reductions, not listed in priority order.
Any changes would take effect beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
While the revenue sharing percentage remains at 57%, the agreement has historically functioned to provide PWCS with a consistent share of overall county revenue growth.
In this case, certain revenues—such as increased data center tax revenue—are not included in the funding allocated to PWCS. As a result, the total pool of funding being shared is smaller than the county’s overall revenue growth.
This means that even as county revenues increase, PWCS does not receive a proportional share of that growth, which affects long-term planning and the division’s ability to maintain services for students.
PWCS will continue to monitor the process and provide updates following the BOCS vote on April 21, 2026.
Community members with concerns may contact their individual Board of County Supervisors representative. Contact information for each supervisor is available on the county website.
PWCS receives one of the lowest levels of per-pupil funding in Northern Virginia. Compared with nearby divisions such as Arlington, Loudoun, Alexandria, and Fairfax, PWCS is funded at a lower per-student level despite serving a large and diverse student population. Even relatively small differences in per-pupil funding create meaningful disparities when applied across a school division the size of PWCS.
Yes. While we are considering a potential reduction in central office positions, it is important to note that the central office accounts for only 8% of the overall operating budget – including operating costs beyond positions. Therefore, any cuts to central office positions would have a limited overall impact on the funding gap, considering the proposed $31 million reduction. Additionally, many school-based positions are funded through the central office budget.
Many centrally funded positions provide direct services to students and schools, supporting instruction, student well-being, and daily school operations. These include, but are not limited to: