CHARLOTTESVILLE,  (CvilleRightNow) – Postponed for a day because of a holiday, a big night at City Council as they hear presentations of the 2025 city and school board budget proposals. There’s no hint in the pre-released Council agenda of the City Manager’s total budget proposal. But City Communications Director Afton Schneider says Sam Sanders has crafted a plan around three top priorities. One is implementing collective bargaining as police, fire, and transit unions are first up with contracts. Then there’s implementing class and compensation in fair pay for employees… and, finally, there’s investing in our schools.

The schools budget notes they’ll need to make up a nearly $6.1-million revenue deficit caused primarily because the state has nearly cut in half the funding to city schools from more than $44-million in the 2023-24 budget year to just under 24-million this year. The rest of the deficit is made up from higher federal funds, about $3-million that was not spent, and a more than $2-million uptick in other local revenues.

Near the top of the 6:30 meeting, Charlottesville High Schools’ boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be recognized by Council for winning the regional championships. Both teams lost in the state playoffs over the weekend.