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TextState Budget Provides Large Net Increase for Fairfax Public Schools
Two actions of the General Assembly produced some significant changes in
state funding for Fairfax County Public Schools.
First, legislators decided to act against former Governor Kaine’s
recommendation to freeze the Local Composite Index (LCI). The LCI,
adjusted every two years, is a formula based on a locality’s ability to
pay and determines how state money for education is disbursed. Since
legislators allowed the LCI to adjust to changing economic times, FCPS
will receive an additional $61.8 million. However, the General Assembly
also cut state funding for K-12 education, which resulted in a $60.7
million loss for FCPS. The net effect is that FCPS will receive roughly
$1.1 million in additional state funding over last year.
Second, the General Assembly reduced the amount Virginia’s school
systems must contribute to the Virginia Retirement System. This move will
save FCPS $109 million. Beginning in two years, that money must begin to
be paid back over ten years to make up for the reduced rate. The
Superintendent and School Board’s proposed budgets were based on the
assumption state funding would be cut by $30 million. With these state
changes, FCPS will have $140 million more available than expected. The
School Board has withdrawn its request for additional county funding.
FCPS is now requesting the same level of county funding as this year. The
County Executive has proposed reducing that funding by $16.3
million.
The Superintendent’s tentative plan is to fully fund the School Board’s
proposed budget which increases spending by more than $80 million next
year, and to hold the remaining $60 million in reserve for future years.
With this increased state funding, the popular programs put on the
chopping block by the Superindent earlier this year will not occur. FCPS
will maintain class size at current levels, retain the foreign language
in the elementary schools (FLES) program and keep full day kindergarten
and elementary school band and strings. It will also fund assistant
principals, instructional assistants, instructional coaches, and retain
freshman sports and indoor track.
Increasing funds above the County Executive’s proposed transfer of $1.77
billion to FCPS at the county level, however, would require either
increasing the tax burden on county residents or making deeper cuts into
other county services. In light of the current recession, we do not have
the funds to accomplish all of our goals and choices will need to be
made.
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