Posted on November 5, 2008

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Message From the Superintendent: FY 2010 Budget Update

Dr. Dale(Editor's Note: The message below was originally sent by e-mail to all FCPS employees on October 22. Dr. Dale will be holding a voluntary employee briefing on the budget, today, November 5, from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in the Robinson High School cafeteria.)

Dear FCPS Employee:

Here in Fairfax County, many people are talking and perhaps worrying about the national economic crisis and its impact on their lives. I want to bring you up to date on the financial picture of our school system in several areas.

First, as the economic picture changes, we are carefully monitoring our school budget for this current school year (2008-09). We made significant cuts last year as we developed this budget to prepare for the downturn in the economy. However, since we are mindful of the critical economic situation, I ask that you conserve your budget expenditures to the greatest extent possible.

Second, your employee pension funds are safe. While these kinds of market disruptions are unsettling, our pension funds, like other public pension funds, maintain a long-term focus on investments. Our overall pension portfolio is structured in a manner that enables it to weather these short-term events.

Third, Fairfax County government has recently taken measures to counteract the continued decline in local revenues. One of these measures is a furlough day for county employees scheduled in January. At this time, Fairfax County Public Schools is not planning to take such a measure.

Fourth, we know that next school year’s financial picture is bleaker than this year’s. The School Board, the Leadership Team, and I are preparing significant cuts in our school system to meet an estimated $200 million deficit.  You will be able to learn more about these proposed cuts in the coming weeks as public discussions begin. I will present my proposed budget with my recommended cuts to the School Board on January 8 for their deliberations.

You can help me shape our budget priorities and spending cuts because no one knows the school system's needs better than our employees. Whether you are working directly with our students or working behind the scenes to support our students, you have the insight to help us decide what is critical to perform our mission for our students. 

Please share your thoughts about FCPS and its budget priorities by taking a few minutes of your time to respond to a survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dQBMAdcVB1_2bvBXw1JHN5zw_3d_3d , or leave a message at 571-423-3597, or send an e-mail to tips@fcps.edu. Thank you for your input.  I invite you to stay updated on the budget process and development by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2010.htm.

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Register Now for FCPS Employee Home-Buying Workshops

All FCPS employees are invited to attend one of two workshops presented by Apple Federal Credit Union to highlight mortgage plans, including one created just for FCPS employees. Whether you’re looking to purchase by year’s end or simply need some pointers on planning for such an important financial goal, Apple FCU’s experts can help you with the ins and outs of homeownership.

Learn about market trends, how to choose a financing option, and what to expect during the mortgage completion process. Plus, find out how you, as an FCPS employee, can receive a special .50 percent rate discount when you finance with Apple FCU. Workshops are free to FCPS employees; however, seating is limited. Register today for either event at https://www.applefcu.org/seminarsFCPS.asp by Thursday, November 13. Snacks will be provided.

Workshop Dates:

  • Monday, November 17, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
    Daniels Run Elementary School Cafeteria
    3705 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax 22030
    (Additional parking across the street at Van Dyke Park)
  • Wednesday, November 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
    Lane Elementary School Cafeteria
    7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria 22315

For additional information, contact the recruitment office at 571-423-3163.

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Fairfax County Wants Your Input on Closing the Budget Gap for FY 2010, Final Sessions to Be Held November 13

The Fairfax County government is projecting a budget deficit of more than $500 million for FY 2010 (beginning July 1, 2009), which must be addressed through a combination of spending reductions and other strategies. Part of the county government budget is the transfer of funds to the FCPS budget. The challenge is to develop a budget with an appropriate level of services that is both sustainable and acceptable to the community.

Fairfax County government and Fairfax County Public Schools invite you to attend one of the 20 community dialogue sessions scheduled to gather comments from the public, which will be used as a key factor to help guide the development of criteria for making budget decisions.

Each community dialogue will consist of presentations by county and school budget staff members followed by facilitated small-group discussions. The next set of community dialogues will be held:

A complete list of dates, times, and locations can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/budget/publicmeetings.htm. Registration is required. For more information, including addresses, or to register, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget or call 703-324-2391, TTY 711.

If you are unable to attend one of the community dialogue sessions, Fairfax County still wants to hear from you. If you have suggestions or comments, you can call the budget hot line at 703-324-9400 or complete the budget feedback form online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.

Editor's Note: You can learn more about FCPS' budget situation in a video featuring Superintendent Jack Dale, and you can share your input on budget priorities in an online survey. You may also leave a message at 571-423-3597 or send an e-mail at tips@fcps.edu.

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EPAY Pilot Program Launched, Watch Your E-mail Inbox for Electronic Pay Advice

Starting with a pilot group, FCPS has begun converting to a paperless system for pay advices (pay stub information) for employees by e-mailing an electronic pay advice (EPAY). This is a cost-saving initiative included in the approved FY 2009 budget. FCPS anticipates a substantial immediate savings in postage fees and paper costs. Savings will also be realized in reduced labor costs associated with printing, sorting, managing, and mailing pay advices.

Electronic pay advices is also a more environmentally friendly solution to communicating accurate and timely pay information to FCPS' nearly 24,000 employees. In addition, electronic delivery, via the secure FCPS network to employees’ FCPS mailboxes, offers far more security than the current paper pay advice that must travel many miles and through many hands.  

When the program is fully implemented, monthly paid employees will be automatically enrolled and may opt out. Biweekly employees will not be enrolled but may opt in to receive their pay advices electronically. See form
FS 73-11.

Using the FCPS secured web site, each employee will be sent an e-mail to his or her official FCPS e-mail account with his or her current pay advice attached as a PDF file. This will allow the employee the opportunity to review pay information and print or save as desired. All pay-related information continues to be available on UConnect.

Your electronic pay advice will be sent to you three days prior to pay day, one to two days earlier than you would normally receive your advice through the postal system.

If you have any questions, or for more information, send an e-mail to the Office of Payroll Management at payroll.help@fcps.edu.  

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