FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — The Fairfax County School Board voted to approve their FY 2025 budget Thursday night. The budget includes a 4% pay increase for all FCPS employees.
FCPS had asked the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for $254 million but was approved for about $165 million.
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid had wanted every FCPS employee to receive a 6% pay increase, but since they didn't receive all of the requested funding from the county, the school board had to do some adjusting.
One of the school board members introduced several amendments before the vote Thursday night.
"Funding should go to the teachers," said Mateo Dunne, who represents the Mount Vernon District on the Fairfax County School Board.
"We need to do more to be able to retain our most experienced teachers," he told the other board members.
He introduced several amendments, focused on adjusting the pay increase to focus more on the teachers, instead of going to employees across the board.
"Let's just be honest and not try to pretend that we haven't differentiated before. We have and in this case, we must. Respectfully, we have a great superintendent, but she's paid more than the president of the United States. We have a great chief of staff, paid more than the secretary of defense," said Dunne.
"We have great administrative assistants who are paid at the beginning of their career 110% above market. We have great central office staff paid above market. They don't need to be paid higher than market. It doesn't diminish their values," he said.
"I get paid $48,000 a year. It's right that a special education teacher makes more than me. It's just a fact," Dunne added.
While some of the board members agreed with some of his ideas, others expressed concerns.
"I do not want a situation where we're pitting people in schools against each other," said Member At-Large Ryan McElveen.
"I'm just uncomfortable with some of our lowest paid employees, who may not be in the classroom but make a huge impact every day in our building," said Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who represents the Braddock District for the Fairfax County School Board.
In the end, the board voted 3-9 in favor of passing the budget, as was Thursday night.
"I'm very grateful for the work that's gone into this budget," said Dr. Ricardy Anderson, who represents the Mason District.
"Unfortunately this budget for me, is too far apart from where I was hoping we'd land, so I can not support," said Dr. Anderson.
Others expressed that even though they voted yes on the budget, they were not happy with the outcome.
"Even though what's included in the budget is very disappointing, In my 21 years of service, I have never not supported the budget, because we need to have a budget," said Ilryong Moon, Member-At-Large.
Others expressed frustration about the way FCPS receives funding.
"It's always going to be like this, we are depending on others. Fairfax County, one of the wealthiest, sends the most amount of taxes to the state and we get a fraction of it. But this is the reality and we live in it," said Seema Dixit, who represents the Sully District
Our county is getting more and more expensive to live in and we are not meeting the needs of teachers and other staff members," she added.
"I'm going to support this budget, but this is definitely not what we wanted," said Dixit.
The board members talked about how they're glad the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors increased the real estate tax and that they're considering the meal tax, but say there also needs to be more support coming from the Commonwealth.
The board members say FCPS is underfunded by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Think about what FCPS does now. What could we do if we have half a billion dollars more? I'm ready to go get the money. That's my new mantra, 'get the money!'," said Vice Chair Melanie Meren, who represents the Hunter Mill District Representative.
The budget goes into effect on July 1.