FCPS seeks more funds to accommodate enrollment growth
Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale’s proposed
budget for FY 2014 calls for a 2.6 percent funding increase over the current
year budget, mostly to accommodate enrollment growth of 2,857 students.
budget for FY 2014 calls for a 2.6 percent funding increase over the current
year budget, mostly to accommodate enrollment growth of 2,857 students.
FCPS Budget Director Kristen Michael gave a presentation on
the $2.5 billion budget at a meeting of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Jan. 16. Here are some highlights:
the $2.5 billion budget at a meeting of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Jan. 16. Here are some highlights:
- Along with an increase in general
enrollment, FCPS is projecting large increases in populations that
require costlier services, including a 16 percent increase in English language
learners, a nearly 14 increase in students with disabilities eligible for
special education, and a whopping increase of over 27 percent in
students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
- FCPS is requesting about $1.7
billion in funds transferred from the county, which is a 5.5 percent increase
($92.4 million) in the amount of transfer funds approved by the Board of Supervisors for FY
2013. That would be a larger increase than the county approved for each of the
past six years, but the county approved larger annual increases annually in
2005 through 2008. County funds mainly come from real estate and personal
property taxes.
- A 1 percent market-scale pay
adjustment is proposed for employees, at a cost of $18.9 million, but the
budget does not include step increases. The starting salary for Fairfax County
teachers is $45,161. That’s less than the starting teacher’s salary in
Arlington, Alexandria, Montgomery County, and Loudoun County, but more than
Prince George’s County, Manassas, Falls Church, Prince William County, and
Manassas Park. The maximum teacher’s salary in Fairfax County is $96,039, which
is less than all those jurisdictions except Prince George’s County. - About 84.4 percent of the budget
would be spent on the instructional program, 5.6 percent would go to
transportation, 4.5 percent would go for facilities management (maintaining
school buildings and equipment), and 4.6 percent would go for “general
support,” including human resources, information technology, and the central
office administration staff. - The vast majority of expenditures
would go toward employee compensation (88 percent). That includes 309 new
positions, with 295 of them to accommodate increased enrollment. Student
enrollment has steadily increased from 169,538 in 2009 to a projected 184,393
next year. Since 2009, there’s been a 42 percent increase in the number of
English language learners and a 35.5 percent increase in the number of students
from lower-income households. Much of the increased enrollment is in
kindergarten and the lower elementary grades, which means the higher student
population will be with us for a long time. - FCPS will have to increase its
payments to the employee retirement system, and health insurance costs will
rise. - The budget proposes funding increases
of $6.5 million for extended time for teachers, $6.4 million for facilities
maintenance, $2.1 million for bus replacement, and $1 million for foreign
language instruction in elementary schools. - FCPS expects to save $38.5 million
in staffing costs by replacing retirees with lower-paid employees. - The lion’s share of FCPS funding
comes from Fairfax County (71 percent). Other revenue sources include state aid
(16.4 percent), sales tax revenue (6.6 percent), federal aid (1.7 percent), and
payments from the City of Fairfax (1.7 percent). The rest comes from a variety
of sources. - The proposed budget projects no
increase from last year in state aid and a 2 percent increase in state sales
tax revenue ($3.2 million). It does not take into the account the possibility of
sequestration of the federal budget, which could have a significant impact.
Here are the key dates in the budget cycle:
Jan. 29—The school board is scheduled to hold a public
hearing on the budget.
hearing on the budget.
Feb. 7—The school board will adopt an advertised budget.
Feb. 26—The Fairfax County executive will release the county’s
advertised budget plan for FY 2014.
advertised budget plan for FY 2014.
March 5—The Board of Supervisors (BOS) will advertise the
tax rate.
tax rate.
April 9—The school board will present its budget to the BOS.
April 9-11—The BOS will hold public hearings.
April 30—The BOS will approve the budget, tax rate, and
amount of funds to be transferred to the schools.
amount of funds to be transferred to the schools.
May 14—The school board will hold hearings on the budget.
May 23—The school board will adopt a budget for FY 2104.
5 responses to “FCPS seeks more funds to accommodate enrollment growth”
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Ok, so most of the student increase is non-English speakers and low income. Why is Fairfax County courting illegal aliens? Why have we thrown open the doors to them? How will they benefit the county? They are going to cost homeowners a heck of a lot more in property taxes. Can someone tell me how opening the floodgates to the surge of illegals is going to benefit the residents of the county?
It benefits the people who pretend to care but just want cheap labor that they don't have to give any benefits to.
Why do you assume that all English language learners are illegal immigrants?
Because in my limited way of thinking, it provides a nice, simple explanation to a complex situation. I don't really want to think about it, I'm too busy shouting at the TV.
Your TV set is a worthy recipient of your comments.