FCPS proposed budget seeks 7 percent salary increases
The proposed FY 2026 budget for Fairfax County Public Schools calls for a 7 percent salary increase for all staff and additional investments in students who need extra support.
“The budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence – not just for FCPS, but for all of us in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young people, dedicated educators and support staff, and a thriving economy,” says Superintendent Michelle Reid.
FCPS is requesting a total of $4 billion for FY 2026, a net increase of $297.1 million, or 7.9 percent, over the budget approved by FY 2025. That includes an additional $268.3 million transferred from Fairfax County, a 10.4 percent increase from the amount transferred last year.
The School Board will hold hearings on the budget on Feb. 4 and is scheduled to approve an advertised budget on Feb. 20.
Reid says the budget reflects the need to recognize taxpayer fatigue, acknowledge chronic state underfunding, meet the expectations of families, and meet the changing needs of today’s students.
“With cost savings in mind, no new initiatives will be sought this year,” Reid says. “Our administrative staffing is lean – well below neighboring districts.” More than 85 percent of the budget is dedicated to instruction.
A major issue for FCPS – and Fairfax County – is chronic underfunding from the state.
“Virginia schools receive less funding per student than our neighboring states – an estimated $568.7 million in FCPS alone. That’s approximately $3,100 per student,” Reid says. And that makes the school system overly reliant on county funding.
Teacher salaries in Fairfax County are lower than in most nearby jurisdictions. For example, the maximum salary for a teacher with a master’s degree is $118,017. That compares to $149,263 in Prince William County, for example, and $129,544 in Falls Church. Only Loudoun County has a lower maximum salary.
According to Reid, “We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.”
The budget also includes:
- $20 million to meet changing enrollment and student needs.
- $9.3 million to enhance safety and security in schools.
- $4.9 million for differentiated learning credentials for teachers.
- $2 million for an expansion of the inclusive preschool initiative.
- $0.7 million for the third year of fine and performing arts stipends.
- $0.7 million for the third year of a plan to provide a certified athletic trainer in each high school.
The budget does not provide funds for changing middle school start times, lower class sizes, maintenance backlogs, expanding middle school sports, or electric buses.
Related story: School board could delay action on middle school start times
10 responses to “FCPS proposed budget seeks 7 percent salary increases”
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Ya- just after the National Education Report notes our schools are failing the kids – these teachers asking for more money need to justify it. Educate us uninformed taxpayers why are schools are failing. Is it mediocre teachers; parents taking no responsibility for their kids learning? Let us have an honest conversation – which I know the overpaid and failure of a Superintendent will never have.
“The budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence – not just for FCPS, but for all of us” — UMM I disagree. a 7% increase in salary across the board is 50% of the reason we face a $300M deficit for Fairfax County for FY26. That 7% increase is costing roughly $150M, that we don’t currently have. It is almost as if FCPS and FCBOS are conspiring to set up a situation where we the BOS feels that there is no other option than to implement a meals tax. Instead, I propose we look at the fat. For example, the over 50 Equity officials in the FCPS equity office. Equity is not equality and is a form of bias. FCPS should not be engaged in providing biased services to FCPS students. Instead, they should be providing an equal opportunity for all students to succeed.
That’s a whole lot of words to confirm you don’t know what bias is.
Ready for a reply that you think is a gotcha. But don’t worry, the information is out there, you can look it up buddy.
Hooray for a meals tax! The Great American restaurant chain defeated it last time, but I’m ready for another vote. Sure there are some small ethnic restaurants that could be hurt. Legislation could be crafted to exempt restaurants of a certain size and/or restaurants opened within one or two years. Let’s do it.
As someone very familiar with the equity office, there are absolutely not 50 “equity officials” in central office. Check facts before you spew hatred.
Fairfax County definitely needs to up its game and increase its tax revenues if it hopes to maintain its no longer world-class public school system, especially if it will require regular 7% wage hikes for Fairfax County to keep its teachers because of the high inflation being caused by the bad Orange man and his tariffs.
At the very least, the Fairfax County board needs to stop sitting on its hands and pass the meals tax and push Virginia’s legislature to allow for not one, but at least two casinos in Fairfax County, one in Tysons another in Reston.
Northern Virginia is going to need the jobs that will be created by those casinos if the bad Orange man is allowed to downsize the Federal Government and the number of its employees as he seems to be fully committed to doing.
Northern Virginia is more than capable of outcompeting Maryland for those casino tax revenues. And the unions which the Democrat Party relies on to finance and wins elections are 1000% in support of casinos in NoVA.
To the people saying we shouldn’t pay our teachers more – what exactly do you propose we do? FCPS teachers are severely underpaid compared to the cost of living in the area. Do you want good schools? You need to pay for them. I’m happy they got 7%, its been YEARS since they had a meaningful raise. Many teachers are struggling to make ends meat.
Meat?
Meet
One of the main reasons teachers leave is for better compensation, so I look forward to supporting this policy. It will reduce teacher turnover and teacher turnover is one contributor to lower student outcomes.
We DO need to increase our tax revenue as a means of paying for and maintaining pay for quality teachers. That could be done with casinos, I suppose, but I don’t subscribe to the narrative that Virginia needs to compete with Maryland for casino tax revenue. We could change zoning codes to allow more density and allow legal sales of cannabis in retail spots. Both measures would provide a swell of tax revenue that is consistent enough to pay for quality public service.
2 or 4% would be reasonable. Especially under the circumstances. 7 is an outrage. Consider Add perks like an EZ pass voucher, boosted housing voucher, free use of all rec centers in county, one free annual conference w travel paid, summer study trip w travel paid, free mental health counseling, property tax relief. Adding 7% is not a wise budget move. Love the teachers and it’s a hard job and an important job. An army of social workers would get better results w fairfax kids these days.