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Bleak forecast for schools
Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and school board unanimously agreed to join forces to review lines of business and school programs in order to plan eventual program and staff reductions needed to attack an estimated $430 million shortfall in the fiscal 2010 budget.
The "unprecedented" agreement by both boards marks the planning for what will be a challenging fiscal future for the county, said county board Budget Chair Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock).
The school board recently passed its fiscal 2009 budget, cutting a number of programs and teaching positions and raising class sizes. The school board budget accounts for nearly 53 percent of the county's operating budget.
If potential "reductions are at the magnitude we're looking at today, there's no way the [size] of classrooms is not going to be impacted," said school board Budget Chair Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner (Providence) at the meeting.
Citing rising gas costs, foreclosure rates and the downturn in the economy, Deputy County Executive Ed Long gave an eye-opening assessment to both boards on the projected impact the sluggish economy will continue to have on one of the country's richest municipalities.
In the first and second quarter of 2008, there were nearly 7,400 foreclosure filings, while compared to 593 for the all of 2006. A 4-percent decrease in overall county revenue is expected next year, Long said.
The county plans to not expand its services next year, anticipating a 10-percent reduction in home sales revenue next year, Long said.
School board members and supervisors will hold a series of joint community meetings, culminating with a school board recommendation of proposed cuts that will go to the county board this November.
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