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FCCPTA’s Analysis of the Proposed FCPS
School Budget for FY 2005

 (Presented at the FCCPTA General Membership Meeting on January 29, 2004)

 
State Funding

 1.      Virginia ranks low in state funding of education. Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC) confirms Virginia under funds education. 

2.      In FY 2004-2005 the Local Composite Index (LCI) for FCPS is .7518 (in FY 2003-2004, the LCI for FCPS was .7171.  The state average LCI is .5500.  In the latest Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Instruction, in FY 2002 FCPS received $1,421 per pupil in state aid while the average state aid per pupil was $2,671.

3.      In FY 2005, FCPS expects to receive less than 20% of its funding from the state, whereas other Virginia school divisions receive about 45% of their funding from the state.

Overview 

1.      The FY 2005 proposed budget is about $1.805 billion for an increase of about $136 million, or about 8.2%, over the FY 2004 approved budget, and about $67 million, or about 3.8%, over the FY 2004 estimated budget.

2.      About 85% of the budget is for employee compensation.

3.      In FY 2004, the average cost per-pupil in Fairfax County was $10,113.  This was about $3,840 less than in Arlington County, $530 less than in Montgomery County, and $510 more than in Loudoun County.

4.      In FY 2004, the average teacher salary, excluding fringe benefits, in Fairfax County was $55,265.  This was about $3,810 less than the average salary in Montgomery County, $4,840 less than in Arlington County, and $1,080 more than in Loudoun County. 

5.      For FY 2005, the requested increase in county transfer is 9.7%, whereas the BOS suggested guideline is 5.5%, for a difference of about $52 million.  In FY 2004 the increase in county transfer was about 6.2%, in FY 2003 it was 8.2% and in FY 2002 it was 9.3%.

6.      Fairfax County lacks the taxing authority of a city.  This city-county equity issue centers on four areas: tobacco, transit occupancy (hotel/motel), admissions (e.g., sporting events), and restaurant meals.

7.      For FY 2005, “Instructional Programs” are divided into School-Based Programs, Instructional Programs Support and Staff Initiatives and cost about $1.5 billion, and “Division Wide Programs” are divided into Department Programs and Centrally Managed Programs and cost about $.3 billion.

 

Instructional Programs

 

1.      For FY 2005, School Based Programs are expected to cost about $1.33 billion and include:

    1. Elementary School -- $432 million (includes, e.g., Core Elementary of $406 million and Project Excel of $18 million)

    2. Middle School -- $127 million (includes Core Middle School of $126 million)

    3. High School  -- $287 million (includes, e.g., Core High School of $274 million)

    4. Special Education  -- $285 million (includes, e.g., Autism of $15 million, Career and Transition Services of $14 million, Emotional Disabilities of $44 million, Learning Disabilities of $82 million, Moderate Retardation/Severe Disabilities of $11 million, Non-categorical of $13 million, Preschool of $22 million, and Speech and Language of $19 million)

    5. Combined Programs -- $162million (includes, e.g., Art and Music of $24 million, ESOL of $53 million, Professional Technical Studies of $28 million, and Library Information Services of $25 million)

    6. Alternative Programs -- $27 million (includes, e.g., Alternative High Schools of $15 million)

    7. Other Programs -- $11 million

2.      For FY 2005, Instructional Programs Support is expected to cost about $119 million (includes, e.g., Guidance and Career Services of $52 million, and Activities and Athletics of $15 million).

3.      For FY 2005, Staff Initiatives are expected to cost about $25 million (includes, e.g., Special Needs Schools of $12 million).


Division Wide Programs

1.      For FY 2005, Department Wide Programs are expected to cost about $251 million (includes, e.g., Facilities and Transportation of $151 million including facilities maintenance of $40 million and transportation of $85 million, Financial Services of $13 million, Human Resources of $15 million and Information Technology of $46 million).

2.      For FY 2004, Centrally Managed Programs are expected to cost about $80 million (includes, e.g. Utilities and Telephone Maintenance of  $48 million).

Dates 

February 2nd—public hearing (rescheduled); 5th -- SB work session; 12th -- FY 2005 advertised budget adopted by SB

March 30th -- SB presents budget to BOS; 29th – 31st – BOS public hearings;

April 26th-- BOS sets transfer to schools

May 17th--SB public hearing and 18th (if needed); 10th and 20th -- SB budget work sessions; 27th  -- SB adopts FY 2005 approved budget

July 1st -- FY 2005 begins

Some FY 2005 to FY 2004 Comparisons

1.      The most significant cost increase in FY 2005 versus FY 2004 is about $145 million for employee compensation including, for example: $37 million for a market scale adjustment (3% teachers and 2% support), $35 million for step increases and to restore a lost step, $25 million for a VRS placeholder,  $14 million for health insurance, $11 million for an ERFC rate increase, $10 million for a VRS life increase, $5 million to pick up .5 percent VRS, and $4 million for a VRS projected rate increase.

2.      Total students for FY 2005 are expected to be about 166,800 versus in FY 2004 it is about 164,700 for an increase of about 2,100 students or a 1.3% increase.

3.      Total employee positions for FY 2005 are expected to be 21,053 versus in FY 2004 it is 21,122 for a decrease of .3%.

4.      Total teachers for FY 2005 are expected to be 13,492 versus in FY 2004 there are 13,384 teachers for an increase of .8%.  In FY 2004 63.4% and in FY 2005 64.1% of total employees are teachers.   

5.      Average per pupil cost in general education in FY 2005 is expected to be $9,201 versus in FY 2004 it was $8,526 for an increase of 7.9%.

6.      Average per pupil cost in special education in FY 2005 is expected to be $16,071 versus in FY 2004 it was $15,096 for an increase of 6.5%.  For FY 2005, the net additional cost per pupil in special education is expected to be about $6,900.

7.      Average additional per pupil cost in ESOL in FY 2005 is expected to be  $3,071 versus in FY 2004 it was about $2,919 for an increase of 5.2%.

Some Six-Year Comparisons


  1.      In FY 2005, about 24,100 students are expected to receive Special Ed level 1 and Level 2 services whereas in FY 2000 it was 21,300 for an increase of 13%.  In FY 2005, the number of special education services is expected to be 49,700 (2.06 per student) whereas in FY 2000 it was 39,100 (1.84 per student) for an increase of 27%.

2.      In FY 2005, about 33,100 students are expected to be eligible for free and reduced-price lunches, whereas in FY 2000 about 28,000 students were eligible for an increase of 18%. 

 ---------------

Ed Saperstein,
edsaperstein@aol.com
Budget Chair, FCCPTA


 

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Last Updated 01/27/2005 20:22:19

 

 

Last Updated 01/27/2005 20:22:19