As Virginia Beach prepares for the 2026–27 budget cycle, this is the right time to consider the future of our public infrastructure — both the flood protection that keeps our homes safe and the school buildings where our children learn.
I strongly support the Flood Protection Program (FPP) approved by nearly 73% of voters in November 2021. The $567.5 million referendum recognized the serious flooding many neighborhoods experienced after Hurricane Matthew. Rather than raising the real estate tax rate by 4.1 cents as authorized, City Council chose to dedicate 4.1 cents of the existing $0.99 rate to the FPP in a “lockbox” fund. This approach honored voter intent while avoiding a tax increase, and city staff deserves credit for implementing the program.
Much has changed since the referendum passed. Inflation, labor shortages and tariffs have dramatically increased construction costs nationwide. Over four years, the FPP cost estimate has risen from $567.5 million to $1.52 billion. Even allowing for market conditions, this escalation shows the original estimate approved by the voters was insufficient to fully deliver the program as envisioned.
City staff are responding responsibly. In a November briefing, Public Works outlined a strategy to complete the referendum projects by 2031 using project bundling, design/build delivery, value engineering and establishing a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). These measures help manage risk and cost uncertainty. Mayor Bobby Dyer is right to describe flooding as a perpetual challenge. In a coastal community such as Virginia Beach, flood protection must be a sustained investment.
The same is true for our public school infrastructure.
As a lifelong Virginia Beach resident and 34-year Virginia Beach City Public Schools facilities professional, I have watched our school modernization program lose momentum. VBCPS owns nearly 90 buildings totaling more than 11 million square feet. A system of our size requires consistent capital investment. When projects are delayed, buildings age and become more expensive to maintain and replace.
Princess Anne High School should anchor our next phase of reinvestment. In 2021, a public-private partnership proposal from SB Ballard Construction Co. was submitted to replace Princess Anne and Bayside high schools, along with B.F. Williams Elementary. GMPs were presented in December 2023 — $240 million for Princess Anne, with completion in 2027, and $258 million for Bayside, with completion in 2031. These were shovel-ready solutions that unfortunately were not approved.
There is a proven path forward. For 25 years, the Joint City Council/School Board Modernization Committee has played a central role in modernizing or replacing 34 schools between 1998 and 2021, representing nearly $800 million in investment. This collaborative model works, and it can work again if we recommit to it.
Beyond Princess Anne, Bayside, First Colonial and Kempsville high schools must be part of a long-term plan. These four schools average 64 years in age, and portions of Princess Anne are still the original 1954 construction.
Encouragingly, City Council’s FY 2026-27 Focused Action Plan calls for continued partnership with VBCPS to deliver capital improvements while balancing other infrastructure needs. The plan also emphasizes expanding vocational and technical education — a goal that can be advanced through modern school facilities. The proposed designs for Princess Anne and Bayside included dedicated space for these programs.
The condition of our schools reflects what we value. Students spend more waking hours in school each week than they do at home. They deserve buildings that are not only functional, but future-ready — environments that reflect the promise and potential of Virginia Beach.
As we invest billions to protect our homes from floodwaters, we should also invest wisely in the places where our children learn, our teachers work and our community grows.
Tony Arnold, PE of Virginia Beach is the director of owner solutions for Hobbs & Associates and former executive director of facilities for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/01/01/column-school-construction-should-be-a-beach-priority/
