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FCCPTA's Analysis of Fairfax County's Proposed 2004 Budget

Presented at the FCCPTA's January 28, 2003 Membership Meeting

State Funding

  1. Virginia ranks low in state funding of education. Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC) confirms Virginia under funds education. 
  1. In FY 2003-2004, the Local Composite Index (LCI) for FCPS is increased from .7171 to .7518 while the state average LCI is .5500.  In the latest Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Instruction, in FY 2001 FCPS received $1,420 per pupil in state aid while the average state aid per pupil was $2,695.
  1. In FY 2004, FCPS is expected to receive less than 20% of its funding from the state, whereas other Virginia school divisions receive over 45% of their funding from the state.

Overview

  1. The FY 2004 proposed budget is about $1.670 billion for an increase of about $115 million, or about 7.4%, over the FY 2003 approved budget.
  1. Over 85% of the budget is for employee compensation.
  1. Fairfax County is one of the most affluent counties in the U.S., but on a cost-per-pupil basis county ranks 11th in Virginia’s school divisions. 
  1. In FY 2003, the average cost per-pupil in Fairfax County was $9,388.  This was $3,328 less than in Arlington County, $253 less than in Montgomery County, and $194 more than in Loudoun County.

5.      In FY 2003, the average teacher salary in Fairfax County was $53,206.  This was $5,474 less than the average salary in Montgomery County, $4,630 less than in Arlington County, and $417 more than in Loudoun County. 

6.      For FY 2004 the requested increase in county transfer is 7.9%, whereas the BOS suggested guideline is 5.3%, for a difference of about $30 million.  In FY 2003, the increase in the county transfer was 8.2% and in FY 2002 it was 9.3%.

7.      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.

 8.     For FY 2004, “Instructional Programs” are divided into School-Based Programs, Instructional Programs Support and Staff Initiatives and cost about $1.3 billion, and “Division Wide Programs” are divided into Department Programs and Centrally Managed Programs and cost about $.3 billion.

9.   Some FY 2004 numbers have changed slightly due to the Governor’s no proposed cuts for education and the Superintendent thus restoring $19 million of planned cuts.

Instructional Programs

 

  1. For FY 2004, School Based Programs are expected to cost about $1.2 billion and include:

    1. Elementary School -- $392 million (includes, e.g., Core Elementary of $371 million and Project Excel of $14 million)
    2. Middle School -- $119 million (includes, e.g., Core Middle School of $118 million)
    3. High School  -- $241 million (includes, e.g., Core High School of $229 million)
    4. Special Education  -- $265 million (includes, e.g., Autism of $12 million, Career and Transition Services of $14 million, Emotional Disabilities of $41 million, Learning Disabilities of $80 million, Moderate Retardation/Severe Disabilities of $10 million, Non-categorical of $10 million, Preschool of $19 million, and Speech and Language of $19 million)
    5. Combined Programs -- $156 million (includes, e.g., Art and Music of $21 million, ESOL of $51 million, Professional Technical Studies of $27 million, and Library Media of $23 million)
    6. Alternative Programs -- $25 million (includes, e.g., Alternative High Schools of $14 million)
    7. Other Programs -- $9 million
  1. For FY 2004, Instructional Programs Support is expected to cost about $110 million (includes, e.g., Guidance and Career Services of $47 million, and Activities and Athletics of $14 million).
  1. For FY 2004, Staff Initiatives are expected to cost about $25 million (includes, e.g., Special Needs Schools of $12 million).

Division Wide Programs

1.      For FY 2004, Department Wide Programs are expected to cost about $235 million (includes, e.g., Facilities and Transportation of $140 million, Financial Services of $13 million, Human Resources of $15 million and Information Technology of $48 million).

  1. For FY 2004, Centrally Managed Programs are expected to cost about $66 million (includes, e.g. Utilities and Telephone Maintenance of  $41 million).

Dates

January 30th-- SB work session

February 13th-- FY 2004 advertised budget adopted by SB

April 8th-- SB presents budget to BOS; 7th to 9th --BOS budget public hearings; 28th--BOS sets transfer to schools

May 12th--SB public hearing and 13th (if needed); 15th and 19th -- SB budget work sessions; 22nd -- SB adopts FY 2004 approved budget.

Some FY 2004 to FY 2003 Comparisons

  1. Significant cost increases in FY 2004 versus FY 2003 include $24 million for membership growth, $58 million for salary adjustments, $12 million for a health benefit rate increase, and $5 million for the EFRC rate increase.
  1. Total students for FY 2004 are expected to be 166,601 versus in FY 2003 it was 163,719 for an increase of about 2,900 students or 1.8% increase.
  1. Total employee positions for FY 2004 are expected to be 21,004 versus in FY 2003 it was 20,745 for an increase of 1.2%.
  1. Total teachers for FY 2004 are expected to be 13,270 versus in FY 2003 there were 13,108 teachers for an increase of 1.2%.  In FY 2003 and 2004, 63.2% of total employees are teachers.   
  1. Average per pupil cost in general education in FY 2004 is expected to be $8,306 versus in FY 2003 it was $7,917 for an increase of 4.9%.
  1. Average per pupil cost in special education in FY 2004 is expected to be $15,024 versus in FY 2003 it was $14,671 for an increase of 2.4%.  For FY 2004, the net additional cost per pupil in special education is expected to be about $6,700.
  1. Average additional per pupil cost in ESOL in FY 2004 is expected to be $2,964 versus in FY 2003 it was $2,807 for an increase of 5.6%.

Some Six-Year Comparisons
 

1.      In FY 2004, 23,600 students are expected to receive special education services versus in FY 1999 it was 20,400 for an increase of 16%.  In FY 2004, the number of special education services is expected to be 48,300 (2.05 per student) versus in FY 1999 it was 37,600 (1.84 per student) for an increase of 28%.

2.      In FY 2004, 22,900 students are expected to receive ESOL instruction whereas in FY 1999 11,300 students received ESOL instruction for an increase of 103%.

3.      In FY 2004, the average age of the buses is expected to be 8.2 years versus in FY 1999 it was 6.6 years.

4.      In FY 2004, about 38,100 students are projected to be eligible for free and reduced lunch services or 23% of total students.  The number of students qualifying for this program has risen by 35% since 1998.

Ed Saperstein

Budget Chair, FCCPTA

703-757-9010 (h), 703-757-7503 (o)

edsaperstein@aol.com

 

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