F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10

Update & Strategy Meeting Feb. 24, 2010 CPES

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_address]
FACE: Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education
Mary Wagner, [email_address]
CPES: Concerned Parents of Elementary Students
Kristen Fennel, Susannah Frazier, Pam Konde [email_address]
Full-day Kindergarten
Jennifer McClelland, [email_address]
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 FCPS
as much as
possible to
go in as a much
BIGGER 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: [email_address]

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 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

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_address]

State Rally in Richmond
VA Education Association & Virginia PTA
“ Stand Up for Education Rally”
When: 11 a.m.-noon, Sat, Feb. 27
Where: 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

“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

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

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F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10

by Fairfax Flags on Feb 25, 2010

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F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10 — Presentation Transcript