Tag: budget
Garza addresses class size, budget shortfall at community meeting
From the left: FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza, Region 2 Assistant Superintendent Fabio Zuluaga, and school board member Patty Reed (Providence). School board member Sandy Evans (Mason) is on the right. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza doesn’t support efforts to equalize class sizes throughout the county by shifting resources from high-needs schools, she told … Continued
Proposed Fairfax County budget would impose huge cut in library staff
George Mason Regional Library in Annandale (above) would be affected under a budget proposal to cut library staff. The following statement from a Fairfax County resident was originally published in the Fairfax Library Advocates blog. Even though Fairfax County Public Libraries consume barely seven-tenths of 1 percent of the county budget, they are being asked … Continued
Fee increases proposed for park users
The pavilion at Round Tree Park. [Fairfax County government] The Fairfax County Park Authority is proposing fee increases for some of its facilities. The Park Authority Board is holding an annual public comment meeting on the fee changes Jan. 21, in room 106 of the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, at 7 p.m. … Continued
Bulova defends decision calling for audit of library friends
Following complaints by various library supporters about the Board of Supervisors’ Dec. 2 decision to impose an audit on friends of the library groups, Chair Sharon Bulova issued a lengthy statement explaining her reasons for the audit. Terry Maynard of the Reston Citizens Association’s Reston 2020 Coordinating Committee, Kathy Kaplan, a library volunteer and advocate, … Continued
Task force fails to reach a consensus on a meals tax referendum
An anti-meals tax sign at Silverado’s in Annandale. Many restaurant owners oppose a meals tax, while advocates for more funding for schools, libraries, the arts, and social services support it. A task force appointed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova to consider whether a meals tax referendum should be put on the … Continued
School board adopts budget for FY 2015
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a $2.5 billion budget for FY 2015 May 23 that delays a salary step increase for employees until November. The 2015 budget year starts July 1. The budget reduces school clerical and custodial staff, increases class size, and cuts needs-based staffing. It includes one additional position for each high … Continued
Fairfax County supervisors call for slight increase in school funds
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed to raise the amount of county funds transferred to the public schools by another 1 percent in the marked-up budget voted on March 22, for a total increase of 3. The advertised budget for 2015 called for increasing the funds transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools by 2 … Continued
Bulova appoints task force to consider meals tax referendum
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova appointed a task force April 22 to explore the possibility of putting a meals tax referendum on the ballot. The task force will submit its recommendations to the board June 17. The task force will be co-chaired by former BoS Chair Kate Hanley and former BoS Chair … Continued
Library advocates urge supervisors to restore funding
Library advocates took part in an Invest in Fairfax rally before a budget hearing at the Fairfax County Government Center. Hundreds of Fairfax County residents are testifying at budget hearings before the Board of Supervisors this week. Many of them are urging the board to provide adequate funding for the public library system, public schools, … Continued
Donations from public needed to help maintain Lake Accotink Park
A secure donation box was installed at Lake Accotink Park, by the marina, so visitors can help support the park at a time when the county budget is failing to provide enough resources. Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) President Tony Vellucci hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the box April 5 at the start of … Continued
Public urged to take part in ‘Invest in Fairfax Rally’ at BoS budget hearing
The Alliance for Fairfax Public Schools and advocates for for public libraries, affordable housing, and other services are urging people to come to an “Invest in Fairfax Rally” at the Fairfax County Government Center April 9, any time between 4:30 and 7 p.m., before a Board of Supervisors hearing on the county budget for FY … Continued
School funding, taxes dominate Mason Budget Town Hall
Fairfax County Executive Edward Long and Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. Would the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agree to raise the property tax rate to provide more money for the budget-strapped school system? That’s one of the key questions for the board to decide over the next few weeks. That issue was brought up by … Continued
FCPS leaders urge supervisors to avert school budget crisis
A fourth-grade class at Mason Crest Elementary School. Now that the Board of Supervisors has released an advertised budget for fiscal year 2015 that would only provide a 2 percent increase in the amount of funds to be transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools—rather than a 5.7 percent increase sought by Superintendent Karen Garza and … Continued
Board of Supervisors to consider two-cent increase in tax rate
The Board of Supervisors The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted March 4 to advertise a fiscal year 2015 real estate tax rate of $1.105 per $100 of assessed value. That’s a two-cent increase from the current rate of $1.085. “Advertising a higher rate sets an upper threshold as budget decisions are considered,” said BoS … Continued
School leaders disappointed in proposed county budget
School board members, PTA leaders, and other education advocates stage a Save Our Schools rally before the Board of Supervisors meeting Feb. 25. School leaders and education advocates are disappointed in the small increase, about 2 percent, for Fairfax County Public Schools in a proposed county budget for fiscal year 2015 presented to the Board … Continued