Budget

The budget for FCPS continues to be challenge to the School Board, the Board of Supervisors, and to the community of Fairfax. We, as a community, want only the best for our children but we also realize that our schools are just one of many needs in the county. It is a difficult job to balance the needs of the children of Fairfax with the need to use our resources in the most effective manner possible. There are a few things to keep in mind as you look at our budget. First, we are the 13th largest school system in the nation with over 164,000 students. Second, while our student population has remained fairly steady over the past couple of years, our challenge comes from the need to educated far more children with English as a Second Language (over 22,000 students) and a greater number of children who come from low income families (33,000). Lastly, keep in mind these facts:

•  73.7% of our revenue comes from the County and only 12% from the state (federal aid makes up less than 2% of our budget)
•  22,199 total staff (92.1% are school-based) 
• Approximately 200 schools
•  FCPS ranks fifth when compared to other local area districts in average cost per pupil. In FY 2007, the FCPS average cost per pupil for all instructional programs was $12,853

While our budget provides for many great services such as an expansion of Full-Day Kindergarten, there are many items we cannot afford at this time.  Our 2008 budget does not contain money for our preventive maintenance program, additional technology staff in our schools, and most importantly additional money for teacher/staff salary adjustments.