A proposed $845.4 million budget unveiled last night will not please everyone, Arlington Public Schools leaders acknowledged.

The Fiscal Year 2026 budget package represents a spending increase of 2.3% from the current budget, and anticipates $650 million in revenue coming from Arlington County. Nevertheless, “we had to make hard decisions,” Superintendent Francisco Durán said in detailing the spending package Thursday evening .

In an era of economic anxiety, “we strive to do more that’s needed, with less,” he said.

In a break from tradition , the budget proposal was a joint initiative of the superintendent and School Board.

Typically, the superintendent proposes a budget, which is discussed for several weeks before the Arlington School Board unveils its own budget proposal for public discussion.

The new approach suggests the proposal is less likely to be amended significantly before final adoption in early May. But School Board Chair Mary Kadera said the public’s response to the proposal will be taken into account in coming weeks.

“We have much still to do and input to receive,” she said. “We’re listening carefully.”

Kadera said the budget plan offers “targeted, strategic cuts” in an era of economic uncertainty.

The county government continues to face massive declines in commercial real estate tax revenue, while downsizing efforts of the Trump administration could send the D.C. area into a recession that would further impact the tax base.

Durán and School Board members are slated to meet with County Board members today (March 14) at 1 p.m. in a work session to review budget issues and the economic environment.

Under state law, County Board members determine the dollar amount of transfer to the school system each year, but have no say in determining how that money is allocated.

As part of the budget plan, Arlington Public Schools (APS) staff will receive an average salary bump of 4.26%. That’s less than is sought by the Arlington Education Association.

A representative of the union said the fight for higher pay was not over, but that may be an uphill battle.

While changes to state law brought collective bargaining back to the county government and school system in 2022, all agreed-upon terms are “subject to appropriation.” That means local leaders are not bound by any agreements, if the money is not available to meet them.

The budget proposal would cut 85 full-time-equivalent positions and would eliminate the system’s exemplary program for high schoolers.

It also would cap the number of students allowed to attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Some of the most emotional testimony last night concerned the proposal to kill the Integration Station effort.

Ashley Donahoo, an instructional assistant who has spent 13 years as part of the Integration Station program, said eliminating it would deliver only a modest short-term budget gain while severely impacting some families.

“Our priority is the students — [isn’t] yours as well?” Donahoo asked Durán and Board members. “Show us through your actions. Actions speak much louder than words.”

Kimberly Hudson, board chair of the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia and one of those leading the effort to preserve Integration Station, said the battle was not over.

“The only thing more tenacious than these students is their parents and this coalition,” she said.

Board member Kathleen Clark called Integration Station “a magical place, truly one-of-a-kind,” but said there were other options available at neighborhood schools that could meet the needs of the students.

Durán said that limited funding meant not all school-system priorities could be accommodated in the budget.

“Some are funded in this proposal, but unfortunately many are not,” he said.

The focus of the budget since planning began last summer was “maintaining and sustaining our core services,” Durán said.

Two nights before the budget presentation, Kadera — speaking to delegates of the Arlington County Civic Federation — cautioned school advocates not to expect new initiatives, given the level of funding expected from the county.

Kadera said she was not blaming county leaders for providing less than the school system desired.

“We want to be mindful and respectful that there are other needs our friends in the county have to deal with,” said Kadera, who has opted against seeking re-election in November. She is the latest in a string of recent Board members deciding to depart after a single four-year term.

At the Civic Federation gathering , Durán also delivered words of caution to school advocates.

“We can’t continue to fund everything,” he said.

Despite some belt-tightening, Arlington’s spending on education is likely to remain the envy of surrounding school jurisdictions.

Arlington’s per-student spending in the current fiscal year leads Northern Virginia at $25,175, according to an analysis done by the Washington Area Boards of Education.

Compared to its immediate neighbors, Arlington’s spending is 6.1% more per student than is spent by Falls Church, 15.6% more than in Alexandria and 20.22% more than in Fairfax County, according to the data.

Under a longstanding revenue-sharing agreement, APS receives 46.8% of the county’s general fund revenues. County funding represents about 80% of the school system’s annual budget.

While only about one in five Arlington households has children in APS, Kadera said she appreciated the large degree of community support for schools.

“An excellent school system is a benefit to everyone,” she said.

A public hearing on the APS budget is slated for Thursday, April 3. Once the county finalizes its own budget and sets tax rates and the transfer amount to schools later that month, final approval of the school-system budget is expected May 1.