04.30.26 Statement from School Board Chair Michelle Rief on the Alexandria City Council FY 27 Budget Adoption

I would like to address and correct some inaccurate statements made by members of City Council during the FY 2027 Budget Adoption on April 29, 2026.

Alexandria City Public Schools received 18.5% of new City funding to support the school division’s FY 2027 Operating Budget.

The approved ACPS Operating Transfer of $286.6 million represents 29.2% of the City’s FY 2027 budget. This is the lowest share of the General Fund allocated to school operations in more than a decade, and Alexandria’s local funding effort for public education continues to rank among the lowest in Northern Virginia. [Source: WABE Guide]

To achieve a balanced budget, ACPS made over $7.5 million in spending reductions, which included a 5% reduction in non-personnel expenditures for all ACPS departments and schools, a reduction in staff and a shift of 5% of employee healthcare costs to employees. 

With the unfortunate reality of the City Council’s adopted FY 2027 Budget allocating $5.6 million less than the School Board’s full request, we will work within our current resources and explore all options to identify solutions and minimize impacts on students and staff.