The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget today; it begins on July 1. Today’s action means that the board formally adopted the budget resolutions necessary to implement the budget proposal that was marked up on April 20.
The FY 2011 marked-up budget proposal included a real estate tax rate of $1.09 per $100 of assessed value, a $0.05 increase from the $1.04 rate in FY 2010. In addition, it slightly increased the stormwater services fee from $0.01 to $0.015 per $100 assessed value. Based on these two tax rate adjustments, the net reduction for the average homeowner’s tax bill is $26.93. The board also approved establishing a Vehicle Registration License fee of $33 per vehicle for most vehicles for FY 2011. The sewer service charge increases by $0.77 per 1,000 gallons, from $4.50 to $5.27. This fee increase addresses aging sewer infrastructure and ensures compliance with state and federal clean water and environmental mandates.
The FY 2011 plan approved by the board provides for a balanced budget. Total General Fund Disbursements are projected to total $3.31 billion, a decrease of $92.2 million or 2.71 percent compared to the FY 2010 Revised Budget Plan.
The FY 2011 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) transfer for operations totals $1.61 billion, which represents a 1 percent decrease from the FY 2010 transfer level. However, the approved transfer level, in combination with the impact of full state funding of the Local Composite Index (LCI) formula adjustment, fully funds the School Board’s operating request and enables the restoration of programs such as band and music, and language immersion.In addition, $160.7 million is transferred to FCPS Debt Service. The total county transfer to support School Operating and Debt Service is $1.77 billion or 53.5 percent of total county disbursements.
Of the $103.3 million in reductions included in the county executive’s proposed budget in February, the adopted budget restores $11.4 million to fund critical Human Services and Public Safety programs. The net change in positions in FY 2011 is a decrease of 176 positions from FY 2010. This includes a net reduction of 284 positions in the FY 2011 Advertised Budget Plan as a result of agency reduction recommendations offset by the restoration of 107 positions in the board-approved adopted budget, including 38 positions for the Police Department (26 for the School Resource Officer Program); 28 positions for the Fire and Rescue Department (16 for the Basic Life Support units); 11 positions in Public Libraries (to maintain Tuesday evening hours from 6 to 9 p.m. at all eight regional libraries); 16 positions for the Park Authority (including 12 grounds maintenance positions); and nine positions for Human Services. In addition, the board approved restoring all proposed Fairfax Connector route reductions.
Additional information on the FY 2011 Budget is available online or call the Department of Management and Budget at 703-324-2391, TTY 711.
