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Update & Strategy Meeting Feb. 24, 2010

CPES. Update & Strategy Meeting Feb. 24, 2010. Agenda. Introductions: Sandy Knox Unification Strategy: Tina Meek Budget Info & Impact: Janie Strauss Controversial Issues: Kristen Fennel Budget Myths & Issues: Janie Strauss Key Dates & Timelines: Sandy Knox

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Update & Strategy Meeting Feb. 24, 2010

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  1. CPES Update & Strategy Meeting Feb. 24, 2010

  2. Agenda • Introductions: Sandy Knox • Unification Strategy: Tina Meek • Budget Info & Impact: Janie Strauss • Controversial Issues: Kristen Fennel • Budget Myths & Issues: Janie Strauss • Key Dates & Timelines: Sandy Knox • Advocacy Strategies: Sandy Knox & Tina Meek • County, State, Community • BOS Public Hearings • Education Rallies • Next Steps & Meetings

  3. Introductions • Fairfax FLAGS: Foreign Language Advocacy for Grade Schools • Sandy Knox & Tina Meek • FACE: Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education • Mary Wagner • CPES: Concerned Parents of Elementary Students • Kristen Fennel, Susannah Frazier, Pam Konde • Full-day Kindergarten • Jennifer McClelland

  4. Unification Strategy Initial Strategy: To be effective we must go in as an 800-pound gorilla

  5. Current Strategy: Unify as much as possible to go in as a much BIGGER gorilla!

  6. Dr. Dale’s Proposed FY 2011 Budget

  7. Controversial Issues & Responses • Teacher pensions • State Legislature has authority over VRS • Retirement packages for current employees won’t change for FY11 budget

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. NOTE: In FY 2009 -- $95M was cut In FY 2010 -- $171.5 M was cut

  12. 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 decal fee to generate $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

  13. 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!

  14. ? #*!?@ State Budget Unknown Until March 13 • Cuts Imminent • Gov. proposed $730M cuts to K-12 education & no tax increases • Uncertainties Abound • House vs. Senate • VRS funding • Meals tax authority • SOQ funding • LCI funded but cuts will impact gains

  15. Key Dates & Decision Timeline • Feb. 25: House & Senate vote on respective budgets • March 9: County BOS sets tax rate • March 13: House and Senate vote on budget • April 6, 7 & 8: County BOS holds public hearings on budget • April 6: School Board presents budget to County BOS • April 21: General Assembly veto session • April 26: County BOS sets tax rate & approves transfer to schools • 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

  16. Contact County Before March 9 • Contact supervisor & Chairman Bulova • Message prior to March 9 is… • Build in as much flexibility in the advertised tax rate as possible to account for critical uncertainties in state funding • Arguments include: • Critical to ensure we can preserve world-class schools and county services to maintain overall quality of life. • Top-notch schools and 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.

  17. Contact County After March 9 • Message after March 9 is… • Adopt maximum advertised rate & fund the FCPS Advertised FY 2011 Budget to maintain quality of our schools and county • 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

  18. Targeting Supervisors & Tracking • Especially supervisors who campaigned on promises of education as 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: fairfaxflagsaction@gmail.com

  19. 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

  20. 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, revenue & is critical to vitality of our state

  21. Contact State Officials • Separate message… • Allow localities to fundraise • Meals Tax • Arguments include • Localities should 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

  22. Contact Your Community • Distribute informational flyers • Preschools, churches, neighborhoods, homeowners associations, businesses/professional organizations, bulletin boards at Starbucks, etc. • Commit to “sponsor” at least 5 citizens to act • Write letters to the editors • Talk it up around town • Educate others on the budget situation, potential education program cuts, impact on quality of life • Explain impact of property tax increase on average homeowner = about three Starbucks drinks a month!

  23. BOS Public Hearing Strategy • April 6, 7 & 8 • Sign up now on BOS website • Speakers: Need huge turnout! • 3-minute limit • Address importance of maintaining world-class schools & quality of life in our county • Supporters: Numbers, numbers, numbers! • Need show of support in audience • Rallies

  24. County Public Hearings Rallies • Present unified front for FCPS funding • Prioritize unified message • Main message with specific program support • Wear school spirit or program T-shirts to unify • Dates • April 6 at 4:30 p.m. at Government Center • April 7 – TBD discuss • April 8 – TBD discuss

  25. Unified Slogan Ideas • High Value $chool$ = High Property Value$ • Save World Class Schools • World-Class Counties Have World Class Schools • S.O.S. – Save Our Schools • World-class schools preserve world-class programs! • FCPS: Progressive NOT Regressive • Sharpen your pencils…fund our schools! • FCPS: More Than the Core • Email more slogan ideas for us to share at fairfaxflags@gmail.com

  26. 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 & after • 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

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