Is FCPS freaking out about Amazon coming to town?

[Anonymous]

Sure the singles will live close in -- in small quarters. That works out well for Arlington and Alexandria b/c they get the tax $$ without the burden on their schools. But, surely there will be many families coming to FCPS. What is the word from Gatehouse? -- from those who know?

[Anonymous]

More trailers!

[Anonymous]

I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

[Anonymous]

Over a need to increase pay to attract and keep teachers in a market with increased housing costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they have been freaking out for months. Crystal City is better than out by Dulles though. And half is better too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure the singles will live close in -- in small quarters. That works out well for Arlington and Alexandria b/c they get the tax $$ without the burden on their schools. But, surely there will be many families coming to FCPS. What is the word from Gatehouse? -- from those who know?

What makes you think South Arlington won't get an influx of families with school-age children, as older residents cash out and older homes are torn down and replaced with new builds. APS already needs a fourth comprehensive high school, but has been kicking the can down the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

and thank goodness it was voted down, because the School Board is not a good steward of taxpayer funds. Why should bonds for new construction be issued when some schools have more capacity than students? What needs to happen is large scale redistricting, but the Board won’t do it because it would be politically unpopular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

and thank goodness it was voted down, because the School Board is not a good steward of taxpayer funds. Why should bonds for new construction be issued when some schools have more capacity than students? What needs to happen is large scale redistricting, but the Board won’t do it because it would be politically unpopular.

This is a lie perpetrated by the far right in our county. The School Board and our County Board are extremely good stewards of our taxpayer funds. They get much better results than our neighbors with much less money. Period. Our taxes are low when compared to similar districts across the country. Good schools and good services cost money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

and thank goodness it was voted down, because the School Board is not a good steward of taxpayer funds. Why should bonds for new construction be issued when some schools have more capacity than students? What needs to happen is large scale redistricting, but the Board won’t do it because it would be politically unpopular.

This is a lie perpetrated by the far right in our county. The School Board and our County Board are extremely good stewards of our taxpayer funds. They get much better results than our neighbors with much less money. Period. Our taxes are low when compared to similar districts across the country. Good schools and good services cost money.

I know Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who opposed the food tax. It was a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

and thank goodness it was voted down, because the School Board is not a good steward of taxpayer funds. Why should bonds for new construction be issued when some schools have more capacity than students? What needs to happen is large scale redistricting, but the Board won’t do it because it would be politically unpopular.

This is a lie perpetrated by the far right in our county. The School Board and our County Board are extremely good stewards of our taxpayer funds. They get much better results than our neighbors with much less money. Period. Our taxes are low when compared to similar districts across the country. Good schools and good services cost money.

DP. I think that, overall, the county and School Board are good stewards of taxpayer funds, but there's no question that the FCPS School Board allows certain schools to be under-enrolled because it does not want to propose boundary changes that would be unpopular. The last boundary change that required any courage was back in 2008 and involved South Lakes HS. Since then, FCPS has only redistricted when it knew the noisier, wealthier parents would be happy (example: Annandale to Woodson; Lee to West Springfield, etc). This has taken place under a supposedly liberal School Board full of Democrats who spend a lot of time professing their commitment to social equity. It's not a "far right" criticism to point out they are better at talking the talk than walking the walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they have a few years to raise taxes on the residents and build more schools. Only 400 employees expected in 2019. Only 1200 employees added in 2020. So, FCPS has at least a few years to tax and build.

FCPS has no taxing authority.

Correct. FC tried to get a sales tax (or a tax on food, can't remember the specifics) in the last few years. That would have gone to funding schools. Many other jurisdictions have this particular tax. But, it was voted down.

and thank goodness it was voted down, because the School Board is not a good steward of taxpayer funds. Why should bonds for new construction be issued when some schools have more capacity than students? What needs to happen is large scale redistricting, but the Board won’t do it because it would be politically unpopular.

This is a lie perpetrated by the far right in our county. The School Board and our County Board are extremely good stewards of our taxpayer funds. They get much better results than our neighbors with much less money. Period. Our taxes are low when compared to similar districts across the country. Good schools and good services cost money.

I know Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who opposed the food tax. It was a bad idea.

No, you're just cheap. Every local jurisdiction with a governing body with tax authority has a meals tax to support schools, while every jurisdiction that requires a vote does not. The voting public is cheap.

[Anonymous]

No, you're just cheap. Every local jurisdiction with a governing body with tax authority has a meals tax to support schools, while every jurisdiction that requires a vote does not. The voting public is cheap.

+1 I voted in favor of the tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No, you're just cheap. Every local jurisdiction with a governing body with tax authority has a meals tax to support schools, while every jurisdiction that requires a vote does not. The voting public is cheap.

+1 I voted in favor of the tax.

+2
Same. I really think the positives outweighed any negatives.