All that DRAMA and now a $34M slush fund at FCPS

[Anonymous]

Is that all you've got? Invective, simple math, a straw man argument and passive aggression - guess most of us know what that adds up to...

You didn't address either of the questions - although it's clear that you couldn't know anything about the subject.

Bye, bye.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you're an idiot. Get your calculator out.
The FY2017 budget was $2,665,000,000. At the end of the fiscal year on June 30, there was $33,000,000 left over. That was due to things like energy costs not being what they predicted they might be.

So let's see by what percentage of the total budget did FCPS miss the mark? Type in 33,000,000. Now hit the divide button because you're trying to figure out what part of the entire budget was not spent. Now type in 2,665,000,000.

Multiple that answer by 100. That is the percentage of the budget that FCPS has leftover and will carry forward to future budgets. That is the percentage by which FCPS missed the mark.

For those playing along at home without a calculator, the grand total is a whopping ONE PERCENT.

In layman's terms, that would be the same as if you budgeted $1000 to go on your family vacation, and at the end of the trip, you laid out all your receipts and realized you'd actually underspent by $10. TEN DOLLARS. That is ONE PERCENT of your total vacation budget that was leftover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is that all you've got? Invective, simple math, a straw man argument and passive aggression - guess most of us know what that adds up to...

You didn't address either of the questions - although it's clear that you couldn't know anything about the subject.

Bye, bye.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you're an idiot. Get your calculator out.
The FY2017 budget was $2,665,000,000. At the end of the fiscal year on June 30, there was $33,000,000 left over. That was due to things like energy costs not being what they predicted they might be.

So let's see by what percentage of the total budget did FCPS miss the mark? Type in 33,000,000. Now hit the divide button because you're trying to figure out what part of the entire budget was not spent. Now type in 2,665,000,000.

Multiple that answer by 100. That is the percentage of the budget that FCPS has leftover and will carry forward to future budgets. That is the percentage by which FCPS missed the mark.

For those playing along at home without a calculator, the grand total is a whopping ONE PERCENT.

In layman's terms, that would be the same as if you budgeted $1000 to go on your family vacation, and at the end of the trip, you laid out all your receipts and realized you'd actually underspent by $10. TEN DOLLARS. That is ONE PERCENT of your total vacation budget that was leftover.

Uh, sorry the discussion isn't working for you. Maybe you'll feel better tomorrow. Bye for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that all you've got? Invective, simple math, a straw man argument and passive aggression - guess most of us know what that adds up to...

You didn't address either of the questions - although it's clear that you couldn't know anything about the subject.

Bye, bye.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you're an idiot. Get your calculator out.
The FY2017 budget was $2,665,000,000. At the end of the fiscal year on June 30, there was $33,000,000 left over. That was due to things like energy costs not being what they predicted they might be.

So let's see by what percentage of the total budget did FCPS miss the mark? Type in 33,000,000. Now hit the divide button because you're trying to figure out what part of the entire budget was not spent. Now type in 2,665,000,000.

Multiple that answer by 100. That is the percentage of the budget that FCPS has leftover and will carry forward to future budgets. That is the percentage by which FCPS missed the mark.

For those playing along at home without a calculator, the grand total is a whopping ONE PERCENT.

In layman's terms, that would be the same as if you budgeted $1000 to go on your family vacation, and at the end of the trip, you laid out all your receipts and realized you'd actually underspent by $10. TEN DOLLARS. That is ONE PERCENT of your total vacation budget that was leftover.

Uh, sorry the discussion isn't working for you. Maybe you'll feel better tomorrow. Bye for now.

+1. PP probably flunked math but still feels entitled to spout off about the budget as if he has a clue.

[Anonymous]

If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

And not on class size? That is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

And not on class size? That is ridiculous.

Well, y'all voted against the meals tax. You told FCPS what you want from the schools, and you told them that smaller class sizes were not something you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, as usual, we have FCPS crying about their need for more money and then we find they are simply hoarding cash to spend without oversight or public attention.

Agree -- there's nothing new this year.

Move along, nothing to see here.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AP8F2Y3D133A

As a result of the revenue and expenditure variances, the total funding available from FY 2017 totals $33.9 million. This agenda item includes recommendations for FY 2018 expenditure adjustments. Items identified as part of the FY 2018 Approved Budget include placeholder funding of $3.3 million for potential bonus options for employees who did not receive a salary increase in FY 2018 as well as setting aside an additional $1.7 million for the staffing reserve to mitigate the impact of the class size increase and address large class sizes. Prior committed priorities and requirements include $3.6 million to continue FCPS’ annual commitment to allocate funding from year-end for major maintenance; $0.2 million for the fourth and final year of the development of world language curriculum and to identify opportunities to develop global partnerships; and $0.6 million to address a shortfall in Adult and Community Education. Funding to support key strategic plan investments includes $0.5 million for employee recruitment and retention initiatives.

All of the remaining funding available, $24.1 million, is recommended to be set aside for a FY 2019 budgeted beginning balance. This results in an initial shortfall of $9.4 million as compared to the beginning balance funding included in the FY 2018 Approved Budget. Looking ahead to FY 2018, additional expenditure requirements may be necessary as part of compliance with the MS4 stormwater permit and federal stormwater mandates. FCPS and the county established a partnership on the joint use of covered salt storage. The County and FCPS are working together to plan for a salt storage facility that will be constructed at the Woodson Complex. Also during FY 2018, FCPS will be piloting lower cost options for replacing bus radios. Any expenditure increases from the stormwater and savings from the radios will be presented to the School Board at an FY 2018 quarterly budget review.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ABTQ5N67573D

As a result of the revenue and expenditure variances, after funding the School Board Flexibility Reserve, the centralized textbook replacement reserve, and commitments and carryover, the funding available from FY 2016 totals $32.6 million. This agenda item includes recommendations for FY 2017 expenditure adjustments. Items identified as part of the FY 2017 Approved Budget include establishing a fuel contingency of $2.0 million to mitigate price fluctuations and setting aside an additional $1.0 million for the staffing reserve to address enrollment fluctuations and elementary class size reduction requirements. Prior committed priorities and requirements include $3.6 million to continue FCPS’ annual commitment to allocate funding from year-end for major maintenance; $0.2 million for the third year of the development of world language curriculum for elementary and secondary schools and to identify opportunities to develop global partnerships; and $0.3 million for the infrastructure sinking reserve fund in accordance with recommendations of the joint Board of Supervisors and School Board Infrastructure Financing Committee (IFC). Funding to support key strategic plan investments includes $3.1 million for world language textbooks that were adopted by the School Board in the spring.

All of the remaining funding available, $22.5 million, is recommended to be set aside for a FY 2018 beginning balance. This results in an initial shortfall of $10.6 million as compared to the beginning balance funding included in the FY 2017 Approved Budget. FCPS is working with the County on lower cost options for replacing bus radios, and any savings will be recommended to be added to the FY 2018 beginning balance at an upcoming quarterly budget review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

And not on class size? That is ridiculous.

Well, y'all voted against the meals tax. You told FCPS what you want from the schools, and you told them that smaller class sizes were not something you wanted.

I voted for the meals tax, however if they are going to waste funds and not put funds back into the classroom, I have more understanding of why people voted against it. I will not be voting for the democratic candidate this year based on these decisions. The school board is not heading in the right direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

And not on class size? That is ridiculous.

Well, y'all voted against the meals tax. You told FCPS what you want from the schools, and you told them that smaller class sizes were not something you wanted.

According to some, the Meals Tax failed because it appeared that the School system had sufficient funds and wasn't spending wisely. The evidence of a $34M "surplus" seems to support that view. The School Board claimed to not have the money - now it appears that they have the money - so their claim to need to increase class sizes doesn't hold water - so reduce class sizes. I don't recall anyone saying they didn't want smaller class sizes - the School Board said they would rather use limited funds to pay teachers more instead of decreasing class sizes. Now it appears they can do both.

by the way - some of us voted for the Meals Tax - about 225,000 voters - so get over your "y'all". If FCPS shows that it can manage the money it has to get what we want including smaller class sizes, than maybe more voters will consider giving more support in the future.

[Anonymous]

What this entire thread is about is that you'd prefer the budget fights happen entirely behind the scenes, not in public the way Garza did them. That's a stylistic choice, not a criticism of FCPS and Fairfax County budgets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have this money why aren't the reducing class size for middle and high school? Wasn't the cut smaller than their surplus? What excuse now do they have for increasing class sizes? I don't care as much that they have a surplus, but now that one exists some of those cuts to the budget should get their funding back.

^^^ This...

And, today, they are going to vote to spend $$$ to change the name of Stuart.

And not on class size? That is ridiculous.

Well, y'all voted against the meals tax. You told FCPS what you want from the schools, and you told them that smaller class sizes were not something you wanted.

According to some, the Meals Tax failed because it appeared that the School system had sufficient funds and wasn't spending wisely. The evidence of a $34M "surplus" seems to support that view. The School Board claimed to not have the money - now it appears that they have the money - so their claim to need to increase class sizes doesn't hold water - so reduce class sizes. I don't recall anyone saying they didn't want smaller class sizes - the School Board said they would rather use limited funds to pay teachers more instead of decreasing class sizes. Now it appears they can do both.

by the way - some of us voted for the Meals Tax - about 225,000 voters - so get over your "y'all". If FCPS shows that it can manage the money it has to get what we want including smaller class sizes, than maybe more voters will consider giving more support in the future.

That's not how schools work. Taxpayers don't give them more money "when they how they can manage money better" by making school parents happier by axing this program, funding that program, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, y'all voted against the meals tax. You told FCPS what you want from the schools, and you told them that smaller class sizes were not something you wanted.

According to some, the Meals Tax failed because it appeared that the School system had sufficient funds and wasn't spending wisely. The evidence of a $34M "surplus" seems to support that view. The School Board claimed to not have the money - now it appears that they have the money - so their claim to need to increase class sizes doesn't hold water - so reduce class sizes. I don't recall anyone saying they didn't want smaller class sizes - the School Board said they would rather use limited funds to pay teachers more instead of decreasing class sizes. Now it appears they can do both.

by the way - some of us voted for the Meals Tax - about 225,000 voters - so get over your "y'all". If FCPS shows that it can manage the money it has to get what we want including smaller class sizes, than maybe more voters will consider giving more support in the future.

You need to understand the facts before you spout off about FCPS "not spending wisely." Please read from 10:29's post. I've copied it here for you. You'll need a calculator. When you're done, please come back and share how FCPS is not able to "manage the money." Please share how you're able to budget and spent your own finances within 1 percent.

The FY2017 budget was $2,665,000,000. At the end of the fiscal year on June 30, there was $33,000,000 left over. That was due to things like energy costs not being what they predicted they might be.

So let's see by what percentage of the total budget did FCPS miss the mark? Type in 33,000,000. Now hit the divide button because you're trying to figure out what part of the entire budget was not spent. Now type in 2,665,000,000.

Multiple that answer by 100. That is the percentage of the budget that FCPS has leftover and will carry forward to future budgets. That is the percentage by which FCPS missed the mark.

For those playing along at home without a calculator, the grand total is a whopping ONE PERCENT.

In layman's terms, that would be the same as if you budgeted $1000 to go on your family vacation, and at the end of the trip, you laid out all your receipts and realized you'd actually underspent by $10. TEN DOLLARS. That is ONE PERCENT of your total vacation budget that was leftover.

[Anonymous]

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/vpublic?"

"expect" that they can get private funding.......


and, you ask why people voted against the Meals Tax?

They have now set a precedent. Here comes Lee and Woodson--even though the Woodson issue is a myth.