FCPS Ups Fairfax City's School Bill, $1M More in Budget Costs

Fairfax City schools make up over 40 percent of the overall city budget. The FY2012 proposed budget puts aside $47 million, about $1 million more than last fiscal year, to cover the cost of educating city students.

The biggest increase from last year comes from the city's tuition contract with FCPS. Though every year it costs a little less to teach a Fairfax City student, city enrollment numbers continue to climb. More students mean more teachers, supplies, classrooms and a heavier financial burden.

Other budget costs remain in line with previous fiscal years. Read on for a more detailed look...

TUITION (FY2011: $37,044,258; proposed FY2012: $38,644,510)*
Tuition is the single biggest item in the Fairfax City schools budget. Though city schools aren't part of the FCPS system, they are operated by FCPS personnel. Fairfax County staffers and teachers man city schools as part of an agreement made by city and county over 30 years ago.

Fairfax City schools get the same programs, materials, teachers as the neighboring county schools. If Fairfax County cuts a school program, that program is also eliminated from city schools.

"It's realistically not possible for us to do so (hire teachers, provide textbooks, etc.)," said Monday. "We don't have the money for it."

Fairfax City's tuition contract is based on how many city students are enrolled in school and how much it costs to seat, teach and look after each student.

City schools have seen an increase in city student enrollment every year for at least the last 10 years. Even though the cost per pupil has gone down ($13K per pupil in 2009, $12K in 2010, $11K in 2011), the overall tuition bill has gone up to account for an increasing student population. Next year is expected to be no different.

ADMINSTRATION (FY2011: $825,413, FY2012: $835,759)
Fairfax City's schools staff consist of three employees, two part-time and one full-time. Monday's position is part time. The three work with the Fairfax City School Board to enhance school infastructure and technology, and secure grants to supplement existing instruction.

The budgeted $835K also covers professional advancement opportunities (think conferences) and legal counsel for the school board.

This proposed budget accounts for a 2.6 percent increase in administration costs from the last fiscal year. An extra $21,300 is meant to cover higher fringe benefits and a market adjustment for employees, but no merit increases. 

If, however, the city council approves any compensation increases for city employees, then the three-member schools staff would get the same increase, said Monday.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (FY2011: $92,600; 2012: $20,000)
Fairfax County maintains Fairfax City school buildings (mending cracked windows, paying plumbers), but it is the city's responsibility to replace school property and systems that are failing or falling past their life cycles.

The draft budget proposal set aside about $90,000 more for maintenance and capital improvements than the 2011 fiscal year budget. Schools staff decided to defer that funding request during budget talks. The money would have gone toward maintaining sidewalks and parking lots at Daniels Run and Providence. Schools staff decided to postpone that expense after the city's public works department inspected both areas.

Both years budgeted $20,000 for minor maintenance and upkeep of Fairfax High School's turf field (this expense is shared with the city's parks and recreation department).

DEBT SERVICE (FY2011: $7,736,949; 2012: $7,674,203)
Debt service includes the long-term bond payments needs to make for high cost school projects. These ongoing payments cover big projects, like the renovation and expansion of Fairfax High School. 

Fairfax City Council will meet to discuss and possibly adopt the proposed budget on Thursday, April 28.

*The city budget includes the county's classroom rental fee as an additional cost in the budget. The county will later subtract the fee (determined by the number of county students in city schools) from the city's bill, making the final tuition for FY2012 $37,044,258 (FY2011-$35,673,040). I've used the budget's total (fee included) to try to make things less confusing, if possible.