‘Bare bones’ FX CO budget proposal recommends no increase for schools

Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin submitted a “bare bones” budget to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 22 with no increased compensation for employees and no increase in the amount of county funds transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools.

While the budget says “real estate values are clearly stabilizing,” it projects “relatively modest revenue growth” over the next several years.

The FY 2012 advertised budget would transfer about $1.6 billion to the schools, the same amount transferred for the current year. A majority of county funds (52.5 percent) goes to FCPS.

The Fairfax County School Board approved an advertised budget for 2012 that calls for the county to increase transfers to the schools by $48.8 million. School officials say this increase is necessary to accommodate increased enrollment, maintain class sizes, and give staff raises for the first time in two years.

The county’s FY 2012 budget proposal would result in an available balance of $30 million, which the county executive says could be used for employee pay increases, increased transfers to the schools, reductions in the real estate tax rate, or other purposes or it could be saved for future infrastructure needs associated with the redevelopment of Tysons Corner and other communities.

Public comments on the budget can be submitted online. Public hearings will be held on the budget March 26, 30, and 31 in the Fairfax County Government Center. County residents can sign up online if they want to speak at the hearing.