- June 23, 2026
As enrollment numbers and revenue continue to decrease, Volusia County Schools is planning to reduce next year's operating budget by over $26 million — but it's still facing a $6.3 million deficit.
School Board members reviewed the preliminary budget for the 2026-2027 school year during a workshop on Tuesday, June 23. The projected deficit is a reduction of this year's shortfall of $14.79 million, and it's a result of enrollment-related funding pressures and other revenue constraints, said Volusia County Schools Chief Financial Officer Deidra Whittenberger.
"Although the projected deficit is lower, the budget continues to reflect the reality of the reduced revenues requiring ongoing monitoring and prudent financial management throughout the year," she said.
Some of the significant cost increases impacting the budget include $4.2 million in teacher salary allocations, $2.6 million for charter schools funding and $15 million for the state's Family Empowerment Scholarship program.
Whittenberger said the teacher salary increase allocation amounts to 1.06%. While this provides additional support for teacher compensation, it doesn't help the district keep pace with paying teachers a competitive salary and addressing compression issues, she explained.
The base student allocation for 2026-2027 will increase by 1.58% or $85 — from $5,372.60 to $5,457.60.
"While we appreciate any increase in recurring funding, 1.58% remains well below the growth many districts' experienced needs, such as salaries, benefits, utilities, and other operational rising costs," Whittenberger said. "As a result, districts may receive additional funds through the formula; however, the increase may not fully offset the rising costs."
Whittenberger said that the district reduced district-level staffing positions by about $1.4 million for the upcoming school year. The preliminary budget also includes another $1.4 million reduction in school-level staffing positions and $500,000 in savings from the state retirement contribution.
Volusia's enrollment is also projected to decline again in the upcoming school year. This is as charter school enrollment and use of school choice scholarships continue to rise.
As a result, while total funding is increasing by 29% from 2021-2022, the district's share is going down. According to district data, 21.3% of revenue is going to charter and scholarships. The district's share is 78.5%.
In 2021-2022, the district was keeping 95% of funding.
The district will be passing through about $99 million for scholarships, including the projected increase, and $33 million for charter schools.
"As students access increased number of educational opportunities, the district must adapt to maintain competitive," Whittenberger said. "Despite these challenges, Volusia County Schools has managed enrollment declines through strategic planning, staffing adjustments, and operational efficiencies. Unlike many districts across Florida and the nation facing similar enrollment trends, Volusia has not had to close schools."
Are school closures a possibility in the future?
When the district adopted its "District Reimaging" policy, School Board member Donna Brosemer said she assumed that the district would evaluate level of services in light of declining enrollment.
Ron Young, director of planning and construction for VCS, said this is the first year Policy 616 has been in effect, and that the board should expect to hear some information in September. It would be a six-month process with meetings in the community, and any recommendations would be implemented the following school year.
School Board member Jamie Haynes said that if it were up to her, some schools would have already closed.
"We've seen the writing on the wall," she said. "We watch the cost to run a school each year go up, especially since COVID. Everything is costing more, but yet we have a declining enrollment."
Haynes added that she wished the state would distribute the funds for charter schools and scholarships themselves, rather than funneling them through the public school districts.
"They feed the money through us, and everybody posts, 'Hey, here's Volusia County's budget. ... Look, it went up, even though they have declining enrollment.' It went up because it filters through us."
