f l a g s presentation 2 24 10
DESCRIPTION
This presentation covers recent state & county budget developments as well as strategies of unified advocacy groups Fairfax FLAGS, FACE, Full-day K & CPES -- all interested in preserving the world-class quality of FCPS and its many valuable programs.TRANSCRIPT
Agenda Introductions: Sandy Knox Unification Strategy: Tina Meek Key Dates & Timelines: Sandy Knox Advocacy Strategies: Sandy Knox & Tina Meek
County, State, Community BOS Public Hearings
Education Rallies: Mary Wagner Next Steps & Meetings: Sandy Knox & Tina Meek Budget Info: Janie Strauss & Kristen Michael Controversial Issues: Kristen Fennel Budget Myths: Janie Strauss & Kristen Michael
Introductions Fairfax FLAGS: Foreign Language Advocacy for
Grade Schools Sandy Knox & Tina Meek, [email protected]
FACE: Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education Mary Wagner, [email protected]
CPES: Concerned Parents of Elementary Students Kristen Fennel, Susannah Frazier, Pam Konde
[email protected] Full-day Kindergarten
Jennifer McClelland, [email protected] FCPS
Janie Strauss, School Board Member Kristen Michael, FCPS Budget Office
Unification Strategy
Initial FLAGS Strategy:
To be effective we must go in as an 800-pound gorilla
Strategy for our advocacy
groups:
Unify FCPSas much aspossible to
go in as a muchBIGGER gorilla!
County Executive Proposed Budget Proposes $3.3 billion budget for FY 2011
1.1% decrease from FY 2010 adopted budget 1% decrease to FCPS county transfer ($16.3M)
County deficit now $257.2M not $315.6M $33 vehicle registration license fee = $27M Recommended tax increase of 5 cents
From $1.04 to $1.09 (less than equalization) Recommends no more than 8-cent increase to $1.12 for
flexibility 6 cents is now equalization not 11 cents Every 1-cent increase generates $18.6M
County Executive Proposed Budget By recommending 8 cents as the
maximum, that gives BOS ability to move around funding to reflect their priorities
Challenging to convince BOS to advertise more than $1.12 (8 cent-increase)
March 9: BOS announces max. advertised tax rate. This cannot be increased!
Contact County Before March 9 Contact your supervisor & Chairman Bulova Message prior to March 9 is…
Generate enough revenue by ensuring maximum flexibility in advertised tax rate & approve vehicle registration license fee to account for critical uncertainties in state funding.
Arguments include: State funding is highly unpredictable. Drastic shortfalls
will result in draconian cuts to our schools & county, severely impacting world-class schools & quality of life.
Top-notch schools & services attract residents & businesses to our county & impact property values, jobs & economy.
Funding shortage will cause cuts in programs that are difficult/impossible to reinstate.
Contact County After March 9 Message after March 9 is…
Adopt maximum advertised tax rate, support vehicle registration license fee & fully fund FCPS Advertised FY 2011 Budget
Arguments include: Businesses site quality schools as #1 reason
for choosing Fairfax County Schools are a major economic driver impacting
jobs, property values, economy Cuts or a level budget severely impact schools
due to growth & requirement to serve all Voters want world-class schools to help
maintain quality of life in this county
Targeting Supervisors & Tracking Especially supervisors who campaigned on
promises to make education a priority Find out supervisor’s passion or special
interest & tie it to education Letting them know how education impacts
their cause (i.e. social services) Let them know every action has a reaction
Help us track! Forward your emails or advocacy efforts to:
Contact Your Community Use your networks
Get county-based businesses (i.e. Volkswagen, Hilton) to contact BOS or speak at public hearings
Talk it up! Commit to “sponsor” at least 5 citizens to contact
officials. Life is busy – keep reminding them to do it! Educate others on the budget situation, potential
education program cuts, impact on quality of life Explain impact of property tax increase on average
homeowner = a couple of Starbucks drinks a month! Write letters to the editors Distribute informational flyers
Preschools, churches, neighbors, civic associations, professional organizations, bulletin boards, etc.
State Budget Unknown Until March 13
Cuts Imminent Gov. proposed $730M
cuts to K-12 education & no tax increases
Uncertainties Abound House/Senate disagree VRS funding Meals tax authority SOQ funding
LCI funded but cuts will impact gains
Contact State Officials
“To compete in this global economy every young Virginian must have the opportunity of a world-class education from pre-school to college.”
-- Governor McDonnell, Inaugural Address, Jan. 16, 2010
Contact State Officials Contact Gov. McDonnell & state officials to
hold them accountable for that statement! Message is…
Oppose proposed cuts to K-12 education Arguments include:
Further cuts will start the downward spiral to the bottom & Virginians will not be competitive in our global economy
Quality education attracts businesses, residents, jobs, tax revenue & is critical to the vitality of our state
Contact State Officials Separate message…
Allow localities option to have a meals tax Arguments include
Localities should have the ability to generate revenue & not be forced to rely on state funding, especially when it falls drastically short
This safeguard allows localities the ability to avoid detrimental cuts that could affect its quality of life & economy, which in turn impacts state revenue
Key Dates & Decision Timeline Feb. 25: House & Senate vote on respective budgets March 9: County BOS sets tax rate March 13: Anticipated adoption of state budget by Gen. Assembly April 6, 7 & 8: County BOS holds public hearings on budget April 6: School Board presents budget to County BOS April 20: BOS Budget Mark-up April 21: General Assembly veto session April 27: BOS sets tax rate, adopts budget, approves FCPS transfer April 29: School Board conducts budget work session May 6: School Board FY 2011 Approved Budget presented May 10: School Board conducts budget work session May 11 & 12: School Board holds public hearings on budget May 13: School Board conducts budget work session May 20: School Board adopts FY 2011 Approved Budget July 1: FY 2011 Begins
BOS Public Hearing Strategy April 6, 7 & 8
Sign up now on BOS website Speakers: Need huge turnout!
3-minute limit Address importance of funding & maintaining
world-class schools to preserve quality of life Need supporters in audience – BIG numbers! Rallies
County Public Hearings Rallies Rally Dates
April 6 at 4:30 p.m. at County Gov. Center April 7 – TBD, discuss April 8 – TBD, discuss
Present unified front for FCPS funding Prioritize unified message
Support for schools as primary message with specific program support secondary
Wear school spirit or program T-shirts
Unified Slogan Ideas S.O.S. – Save Our Schools High Value $chool$ = High Property Value$ Save World Class Schools World-Class Counties Have World-Class Schools FCPS: Progressive NOT Regressive Sharpen your pencils…fund our schools! FCPS: More Than the Core
Email more slogan ideas for us to share at [email protected]
State Rally in Richmond
VA Education Association & Virginia PTA “Stand Up for Education Rally”
When: 11 a.m.-noon, Sat, Feb. 27Where: Capitol Grounds Richmond
Feel free to bring your children. Also hand
made signs would be terrific, but do not attach them to sticks or posts as these are
not allowed on the Capitol Grounds.
Next Steps & Meeting Sign up for public hearings tonight If speaking, let us know date & number Contact your county supervisor &
Chairman Bulova before Mar. 9 & ongoing Contact your state officials before Mar. 13 Sponsor five citizens by this weekend to
take action to contact county & state Take flyers to distribute Mar. 22: Testimony & Rally Workshop
FCPS Budget Information
The following slides, originally at the front end of this presentation, address FCPS-
specific budget info, issues & myths.
Most was covered by FCPS Board Member Jane Strauss & Kristen Michael of the
FCPS Budget Office
Dr. Dale’s Proposed FY 2011 Budget
Controversial Issues & Responses Teacher pensions
State Legislature has authority over VRS Retirement packages for current employees
won’t change for FY11 budget
Controversial Issues & Responses “Bloated bureaucracy”
Lowest percentage of nonschool-based management positions to total school system positions in metro area
Significant decline in ratio of nonschool-based positions to students over past 20 years
FCPS enrollment increased 30 percent since 1991 while nonschool-based positions decreased by 13 percent
Central office support cut by 20 percent over last three years
92.6 percent of FCPS employees work in schools
Source: FCPS The Bottom Line, Jan. 8, 2010
Controversial Issues & Responses Schools receive half of county budget why
should FCPS get more? Other school systems in VA receive about 50
percent of funding from state under the LCI FCPS receives about 17-20 percent from state
because of our county’s relative wealth State legislature proposing to shift even more
costs onto localities for FY 2011
FCPS Factors, Cuts & Efficiencies Budget overview from FY 1999 to FY 2011 Increased spending factors FY 2011 expenditures Student enrollment impact Cost-per-pupil comparisons Changes in central
NOTE:
In FY 2009 -- $95M was cut
In FY 2010 -- $171.5 M was cut
