W-JCC Schools to review $201 million budget with local governments today
It's Feb. 6. Williamsburg, James City County and local school board meet today to review budget ask. Donors help WHRO survive Trump budget cuts. Habitat for Humanity seeks land donations.
Williamsburg-James City County schools were promised nearly $119 million next year from James City County and the city of Williamsburg. School board members will ask for another $1.9 million today.
The two localities and the school board will have their joint meeting Friday morning starting at 8:30 in the city council chambers at the Stryker Center.
At the meeting the schools will make their case for a $201 million operating budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
A budget that size would represent an increase of more than $20 million over the past two years. School enrollment dipped from 11,379 in 2024 to 11,146 in 2025 and is expected to remain at that level this year.
School officials are looking for a $10.3 million increase in pay and benefits to bring salaries more in line with what other area schools are paying.
They also are asking for $415,000 for a JROTC program and $225,000 to establish a lacrosse program.
James City County taxpayers will fund the bulk of the local contribution – $104.5 million -- because county children make up the bulk of students in the system. Education is 40% of the county budget, the largest single county expense and more than double the second largest expense, for public safety.
Because of the city’s smaller student population, education is the fourth largest share of Williamsburg’s annual operating budget. It ranks below public works, public safety and parks and recreation budget expenses.
Contributors help WHRO offset Trump cuts
Editor’s Note: Williamsburg Watch is a WHRO news partner
WHRO survived a $1.7 million cut in federal funding this year without having to lay off staff as local contributors stepped up donations, the group’s CEO told us.
“The community has really stepped up, it’s just incredible,” CEO Bert Schmidt said.
WHRO, which is owned by Hampton Roads’ 21 school divisions, operates five radio stations and five TV stations, including WHRV and WHRO.
Over the past 64 years WHRO has expanded its programs to include news, music, PBS programs and educational resources for schools across the state, including online courses and a web-based library of multimedia learning objects.
At the behest of President Donald J. Trump, a critic of public media, Congressional Republicans clawed back $1.7 million in federal contributions that had been budgeted for the current fiscal year. That amount represents 9% of WHRO’s $20 million budget.
Schmidt said the organization mounted a campaign last summer to offset the cuts with donations, targeting its wealthiest donors as well as the 25,000 families who donate to the stations.
WHRO left open five employee positions that became vacant because of retirements and resignations, he said.
Schmidt said the station was in good shape for the short term, but “my question is the long term viability....we’re going to be around, it’s just a matter of what’s the size of the organization.”
Schmidt said nonprofit media play a critical role in informing the public, adding “the commercial media is failing them. They are becoming biased on the left or right or creating a sensational type of journalism.”
He said the audiences for the WHRO broadcast stations include liberals, moderates and conservatives.
“We get people upset with us from both the left and the right, which tells me we’re doing something right,” Schmidt said.
Habitat for Humanity pushes for land donations for affordable homes
Habitat for Humanity is looking for governments or property owners to donate land where the nonprofit can build homes for people who can’t afford local prices.
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is part of a global nonprofit that builds or repairs homes to provide affordable housing to people across the United States.
More than 25% of James City County households, and one third of Williamsburg’s, are spending more than a third of their income on housing, according to task forces formed in each locality to study the problem.
“Access to land is the single greatest barrier to building more affordable homes in our communities,” said Shauntrice Williams, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. “This is a call to action for anyone who owns or controls land. Your generosity can directly translate into affordable homes for families who need them, and into stronger, more stable neighborhoods for all of us.”
Donors may be eligible for charitable tax deductions, and additional tax incentives or credits may be available , Williams said.
Data cited by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) and from the Virginia Realtors Association shows that the share of homes selling for $200,000 or less has dropped by 40% since 2019. The median price of home sales in James City and York counties rose above $400,000 last year.
Households that may earn enough to manage monthly mortgage payments often lack the savings needed for down payments and closing costs, which can exceed $10,000 even for modestly priced homes, according to Habitat for Humanity.
Renting can also be out of reach. JLARC reported Virginia faces a statewide shortage of at least 200,000 affordable rental units for low-income households.
State headlines
Affordability or tax hikes? Spanberger agenda caught in political crossfire
Democrats reach agreement on 10-1 Congressional map
House Democrats pass sweeping gun control package over GOP objections
I should have said. Yvonne Allmond, chair of the WHRO board
Who is the woman in the WHRO photo?