Friday, January 10

FCPS Superintendent Presents Proposed Budget of $1.6 Billion for FY 2004

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech has proposed a $1.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2004, which includes $23.6 million to fund increases in student enrollment but no new programs for the third consecutive year. The FY 2004 budget requests a 7.9 percent transfer increase from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The proposed budget is based on the anticipated additional enrollment of 2,882 students—during a year when four new elementary schools will open their doors—and includes increases of $74.8 million in employee compensation and benefits.

"Despite harsh fiscal realities, I am also adding two additional employee initiatives--$4.9 million, which will relieve employees' contributions to their retirement funds by .5 percent, and $1.9 million to add a step to the unified salary scale," says Domenech. "These increases honor my commitment to make FCPS employees the highest paid K-12 education employees in the Washington metropolitan area. Achieving this goal is critical to maintaining the quality of our schools in the years ahead.

"This new budget holds the line," he states. "Prudent management strategies have generated significant systemwide savings during 2002. But what will make this budget work is (Virginia) Governor (Mark) Warner's refusal to cut state funding to education. In these uncertain times, our top priorities must be to provide a world-class education to all our students and to keep our employee compensation competitive in the marketplace. The FY 2004 budget does these things, while asking for the smallest transfer increase in four years from the Board of Supervisors."

The FY 2004 budget proposes a per-pupil expenditure of $9,801. In the latest available survey, Fairfax County is 11th in per-pupil expenditures statewide, behind neighboring Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church school systems at a time when FCPS students' standardized test scores continue to rise steadily. A total of 89 percent of Fairfax County schools are now fully accredited under the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL), senior class SAT scores are 80 points higher than the state average, and all students continue to make steady gains on the Stanford 9TA test.

"The FCPS FY 2004 budget recommendations depend on the willingness of the Board of Supervisors to provide a 7.9 percent transfer increase and on the support of the General Assembly for the governor's FY 2004 budget," cautioned Domenech. "We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the governor, who protected funding for education in his budget. We thank him for his wisdom and his support. We will continue to advocate for adequate funding from the General Assembly."

The FY 2004 budget was originally balanced by cutting $19 million and 156 positions from the school system. The superintendent is proposing that these cuts be restored to the budget; however, if the state makes additional reductions in education funding or if the Board of Supervisors does not agree to the
7.9 percent transfer increase, the cuts may have to be reinstated.

The School Board will hold work sessions on the FY 2004 budget on Monday, January 13; Tuesday, January 21; Thursday, January 30; Monday, May 5; Thursday, May 15; and Monday, May 19. Public hearings are scheduled for Monday, January 27; Tuesday, January 28 (if needed); Monday, May 12; and Tuesday, May 13 (if needed) at 7 p.m. The work sessions and public hearings will be held at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, and will be televised on cable Channel 21. Citizens are welcome to speak at School Board public hearings and may sign up to do so by calling 571-423-1075.

Updates on the FY 2004 budget process can be obtained by visiting the FCPS web site at http://www.fcps.edu/fs/OBS/index.htm or by e-mailing budinfo@fcps.edu.

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Note: For more information, contact Charles Woodruff, FCPS chief financial officer, or Deirdra McLaughlin, director, Office of Budget Services, at
703-246-2811.