WAPO article about sever FFX school budget cuts

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-schools-chief-to-propose-deep-cuts/2013/10/20/6131ca94-3995-11e3-a94f-b58017bfee6c_story.html?hpid=z2

So, looks like Fairfax is about to lose it's vaunted status....

[Anonymous]

You say that like it is a good thing. It is not, even if you are in another area district. Part of this area's strong economic growth can be attributed to the population and businesses attracted by the good public schools and Fairfax is so big it is a big part of that picture. The picture painted by the article is one of population growth and stagnating tax revenues. Hopefully, the county board of supervisors will not be short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP...bad news all around.

[Anonymous]

It is the same start to the same dance we have every year. The School Board says "we need more money or we will close/cut/eliminate the following popular programs." Parents cry, "That's OUTRAGEOUS, we didn't move to Fairfax for blah blah blah." Then they storm the BOS and get a little bit more and all is right with the world. THe gap isn't as large as in previous years, yet they are saying it is more "dire" than in past years. I don't believe it. SSDY. The BOS has to stop shorting the county on ALL levels, not just the schools, and raise the rate enough to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the same start to the same dance we have every year. The School Board says "we need more money or we will close/cut/eliminate the following popular programs." Parents cry, "That's OUTRAGEOUS, we didn't move to Fairfax for blah blah blah." Then they storm the BOS and get a little bit more and all is right with the world. THe gap isn't as large as in previous years, yet they are saying it is more "dire" than in past years. I don't believe it. SSDY. The BOS has to stop shorting the county on ALL levels, not just the schools, and raise the rate enough to do so.

Actually it is a different dance this year. There are several costs that are "new" this year including a payment to the retirement system, more students and healthcare costs. As for the gap, $149 million is not a number I've seen before.

[Anonymous]

I guess the WP article did not see fit to mention the massive increased costs of heath ins...

Although the budget development process has barely started for next school year’s funding, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is facing a bottom-line budget deficit of $140.7 million in FY 2015, due to revenues that have not kept pace with growing enrollment and increasing mandatory costs. The primary drivers include:
Student enrollment growth, projected to be an additional 2,800 students for next school year ($25 million).

Health insurance rate increase ($27 million).

Increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System ($37 million).

Loss in state revenue through the recalculation of the state funding formula, known as the LCI, and the loss of one-time incentive funding ($21 million).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the WP article did not see fit to mention the massive increased costs of heath ins...

Although the budget development process has barely started for next school year’s funding, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is facing a bottom-line budget deficit of $140.7 million in FY 2015, due to revenues that have not kept pace with growing enrollment and increasing mandatory costs. The primary drivers include:
Student enrollment growth, projected to be an additional 2,800 students for next school year ($25 million).

Health insurance rate increase ($27 million).

Increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System ($37 million).


Loss in state revenue through the recalculation of the state funding formula, known as the LCI, and the loss of one-time incentive funding ($21 million).

Wow. That's all? Whew. I was worried it would have gone up at the rate it was going before Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. That's a real relief to know that costs are under control there. Thanks for pointing it out. The school system employs more than 25,000 people, BTW.

[Anonymous]

I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

[Anonymous]

Is the health insurance rate increase of 27 m the total or just the increase?

[Anonymous]

Re: Health insurance...

This is a budget. Looks like last year they purposefully budgeted high (over-budgeted) for health insurance increases:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2013/budget_questions/bos/responses_package_2/18_total_compensation_comparison.pdf

More to the point, the $27 million figure is wrong (it may be a two-year number). It looks like a proposal of $13.3 million more in FY 14 than was approved in FY 13.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/advertised/fcps-fy2014-advertised-update-bos-march-12-2013.pdf (SLIDE 7)

Slide 6 is also interesting. Shows a spike in ESL and FARMs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

Who says AAP, or at least AAP in its current bloated iteration is "essential?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most cuts would be to non-essential programs like AAP?

The discussion document is posted on BoardDocs:

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9CMENL3B3C54/$file/Menu%20of%20Discussion%20Considerations%20for%20FY%202015%20Attachment%205.pdf

[Anonymous]

I'm correcting my previous post. DOn't know why they are on FY 15 but the $27 million figure is correct.

I assume they're offering health insurance to more workers per the employer mandate, and that explains the cost, not some rate increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the same start to the same dance we have every year. The School Board says "we need more money or we will close/cut/eliminate the following popular programs." Parents cry, "That's OUTRAGEOUS, we didn't move to Fairfax for blah blah blah." Then they storm the BOS and get a little bit more and all is right with the world. THe gap isn't as large as in previous years, yet they are saying it is more "dire" than in past years. I don't believe it. SSDY. The BOS has to stop shorting the county on ALL levels, not just the schools, and raise the rate enough to do so.

Actually it is a different dance this year. There are several costs that are "new" this year including a payment to the retirement system, more students and healthcare costs. As for the gap, $149 million is not a number I've seen before.

A few years ago it was nearly $500m and they threatened to cut the foreign language immersion and full day kindergarten for all but the Title I schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the health insurance rate increase of 27 m the total or just the increase?

It is the increase.