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Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
FCPS FY2016 Budget - Worth It?
Posted by:
World Class Schools
()
Date: January 13, 2015 11:29PM
I know many who come to FFXU cannot read or think correctly, but here is some news that affects all Fairfax residents. Share your thoughts. What's your favorite budget item below?
FCPS Announces Proposed Budget of $2.6 Billion for FY 2016
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced yesterday the school system’s FY 2016 Proposed Budget of $2.6 billion, a net increase of 2.6 percent, or $64 million, from the FY 2015 Approved Budget. The FY 2016 Proposed Budget addresses several significant cost drivers including:
* Enrollment Increases and Changing Student Demographics ($18.6 million)—Since FY 2011, enrollment has grown by 13,171 students which is nearly the total enrollment of Alexandria City Public Schools. Students receiving ESOL services are projected to account for 17.1 percent of total enrollment in FY 2016. Students eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals are projected to make up 28.2 percent.
* Salary Increases for Employees ($59.4 million)—This provides a step increase for all eligible employees and a one percent market scale adjustment for all employees. FCPS must have attractive salaries to remain competitive. The school system ranks fifth in starting teacher salaries, eighth in mid-career teacher salaries, and ninth in the maximum teacher salary among school divisions in the metropolitan Washington area. FCPS’ future success is contingent upon keeping its outstanding employees.
* Full-Day Mondays ($4.9 million)—This provides additional elementary teacher planning time and a full day of instruction on Mondays for elementary students.
* Later High School Start Times ($4.9 million)—This covers the purchase of 27 buses, as well as funding for additional bus drivers, training, and vehicle fuel and service costs.
* Elementary Class Size Relief ($3.1 million)—FCPS is committed to alleviating large class sizes in targeted elementary schools.
Funding instruction is FCPS’ highest priority with 85.4 percent of the proposed budget allocated to instruction.
The FY 2016 Proposed Budget uses a shared approach of reducing expenditures coupled with a request to the Board of Supervisors for an additional $70.6 million, or 3.99 percent, over FY 2015 that takes into account the impact of the Governor’s budget proposal. The requested transfer increase from the county is $14 million, or 0.79 percent, above the guidance provided by the Board of Supervisors, which included a 3.00 percent transfer increase plus the cost associated with Full-Day Mondays. Nearly 72 percent of FCPS’ projected revenue is provided by the County.
FCPS prides itself on being efficient and has taken a number of proactive steps to address budget challenges. The FY 2016 Proposed Budget includes reductions of $55.4 million, which would be achieved through compensation base savings resulting from employee turnover; lower health insurance costs; reductions to centrally managed accounts including fuel, utilities, employee benefits; and savings produced by the divisionwide reorganization.
Since 2008, FCPS has taken historic reductions totaling nearly $435 million, including more than 2,175 positions. With the additional reductions planned for FY 2016, total reductions since FY 2008 are now approaching half a billion dollars—even as the student body grew by approximately 22,000 students.
As another indicator of operational efficiency, FCPS’ cost per pupil has remained in the middle when compared to other school districts in the metropolitan area and increased just $464, or 3.5 percent, between FY 2009 and FY 2016 while educating an increasing number of students with greater needs. After adjusting for inflation, FCPS spending per pupil remains below the FY 2009 level.
The FY 2016 Proposed Budget is practical and realistic, but it does not reflect all of the needs of the district. FCPS made a concerted effort to stay as close as possible to the budget guidance established by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. FCPS requires a long-term funding strategy that is predictable and sustainable. Balancing each year’s budget on continued reductions will erode the school system’s quality.
The Superintendent’s Proposed Budget is only the starting point of the budget process, which ends in May with the School Board’s adoption of the Approved Budget. The Fairfax County School Board will hold public hearings on the FY 2016 budget on Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, (if needed) with a budget work session scheduled for Thursday, January 29. The School Board will present its budget to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 7.
FCPS is grateful for the community’s continued support of its outstanding school system and the amazing students that it is honored to serve. FCPS invites your active participation in the budget process and appreciates your support in helping FCPS continue to be one of the best school districts in the country. Please see how to get involved below.
FCPS Announces Proposed Budget of $2.6 Billion for FY 2016
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced yesterday the school system’s FY 2016 Proposed Budget of $2.6 billion, a net increase of 2.6 percent, or $64 million, from the FY 2015 Approved Budget. The FY 2016 Proposed Budget addresses several significant cost drivers including:
* Enrollment Increases and Changing Student Demographics ($18.6 million)—Since FY 2011, enrollment has grown by 13,171 students which is nearly the total enrollment of Alexandria City Public Schools. Students receiving ESOL services are projected to account for 17.1 percent of total enrollment in FY 2016. Students eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals are projected to make up 28.2 percent.
* Salary Increases for Employees ($59.4 million)—This provides a step increase for all eligible employees and a one percent market scale adjustment for all employees. FCPS must have attractive salaries to remain competitive. The school system ranks fifth in starting teacher salaries, eighth in mid-career teacher salaries, and ninth in the maximum teacher salary among school divisions in the metropolitan Washington area. FCPS’ future success is contingent upon keeping its outstanding employees.
* Full-Day Mondays ($4.9 million)—This provides additional elementary teacher planning time and a full day of instruction on Mondays for elementary students.
* Later High School Start Times ($4.9 million)—This covers the purchase of 27 buses, as well as funding for additional bus drivers, training, and vehicle fuel and service costs.
* Elementary Class Size Relief ($3.1 million)—FCPS is committed to alleviating large class sizes in targeted elementary schools.
Funding instruction is FCPS’ highest priority with 85.4 percent of the proposed budget allocated to instruction.
The FY 2016 Proposed Budget uses a shared approach of reducing expenditures coupled with a request to the Board of Supervisors for an additional $70.6 million, or 3.99 percent, over FY 2015 that takes into account the impact of the Governor’s budget proposal. The requested transfer increase from the county is $14 million, or 0.79 percent, above the guidance provided by the Board of Supervisors, which included a 3.00 percent transfer increase plus the cost associated with Full-Day Mondays. Nearly 72 percent of FCPS’ projected revenue is provided by the County.
FCPS prides itself on being efficient and has taken a number of proactive steps to address budget challenges. The FY 2016 Proposed Budget includes reductions of $55.4 million, which would be achieved through compensation base savings resulting from employee turnover; lower health insurance costs; reductions to centrally managed accounts including fuel, utilities, employee benefits; and savings produced by the divisionwide reorganization.
Since 2008, FCPS has taken historic reductions totaling nearly $435 million, including more than 2,175 positions. With the additional reductions planned for FY 2016, total reductions since FY 2008 are now approaching half a billion dollars—even as the student body grew by approximately 22,000 students.
As another indicator of operational efficiency, FCPS’ cost per pupil has remained in the middle when compared to other school districts in the metropolitan area and increased just $464, or 3.5 percent, between FY 2009 and FY 2016 while educating an increasing number of students with greater needs. After adjusting for inflation, FCPS spending per pupil remains below the FY 2009 level.
The FY 2016 Proposed Budget is practical and realistic, but it does not reflect all of the needs of the district. FCPS made a concerted effort to stay as close as possible to the budget guidance established by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. FCPS requires a long-term funding strategy that is predictable and sustainable. Balancing each year’s budget on continued reductions will erode the school system’s quality.
The Superintendent’s Proposed Budget is only the starting point of the budget process, which ends in May with the School Board’s adoption of the Approved Budget. The Fairfax County School Board will hold public hearings on the FY 2016 budget on Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, (if needed) with a budget work session scheduled for Thursday, January 29. The School Board will present its budget to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 7.
FCPS is grateful for the community’s continued support of its outstanding school system and the amazing students that it is honored to serve. FCPS invites your active participation in the budget process and appreciates your support in helping FCPS continue to be one of the best school districts in the country. Please see how to get involved below.
Re: FCPS FY2016 Budget - Worth It?
Posted by:
Reasonable taxpayer
()
Date: January 14, 2015 08:57AM
Sounds like they are doing the best they can given the changing demographics of Fairfax and the environment created by local, state and federal politicians.
Approved
Approved
Re: FCPS FY2016 Budget - Worth It?
Posted by:
RydelllRoad
()
Date: January 14, 2015 09:28AM
World Class Schools Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
> Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced yesterday
> the school system’s FY 2016 Proposed Budget of
> $2.6 billion, a net increase of 2.6 percent, or
> $64 million, from the FY 2015 Approved Budget. The
> FY 2016 Proposed Budget addresses several
> significant cost drivers including:
> Since 2008, FCPS has taken historic reductions
> totaling nearly $435 million ... With the additional reductions
> planned for FY 2016, total reductions since FY
> 2008 are now approaching half a billion
> dollars—even as the student body grew by
> approximately 22,000 students.
The double-speak just goes on and on. By their own logic, increasing spending by $64 million is a reduction. So is FCPS really spending half a billion dollars less than 2008? I think not.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
> Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced yesterday
> the school system’s FY 2016 Proposed Budget of
> $2.6 billion, a net increase of 2.6 percent, or
> $64 million, from the FY 2015 Approved Budget. The
> FY 2016 Proposed Budget addresses several
> significant cost drivers including:
> Since 2008, FCPS has taken historic reductions
> totaling nearly $435 million ... With the additional reductions
> planned for FY 2016, total reductions since FY
> 2008 are now approaching half a billion
> dollars—even as the student body grew by
> approximately 22,000 students.
The double-speak just goes on and on. By their own logic, increasing spending by $64 million is a reduction. So is FCPS really spending half a billion dollars less than 2008? I think not.
Re: FCPS FY2016 Budget - Worth It?
Posted by:
Pacheco
()
Date: January 14, 2015 10:25AM
Need to cover more of Obama's broken immigration policy.
