FCPS Superintendent Prioritizes Staff Pay in Proposed $4.1B Budget
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) officials have presented a proposed budget of $4.1 billion for fiscal year 2027. Superintendent Michelle Reid unveiled the budget on January 22, 2026, during a school board meeting. The plan emphasizes fiscal responsibility and seeks full support from the Board of Supervisors.
Key Budget Highlights
The proposed budget reflects a $197 million increase, amounting to a 5% rise from the previous year. Of this increase, $178 million is earmarked for enhancing staff compensation and benefits, aimed at supporting educators and support staff. Reid emphasized that “strong educators and support staff are the cornerstone of student success.” The budget also aims to reduce class sizes and restore vital positions in special education and advanced academic resources.
Background and Fiscal Challenges
Last year’s budget faced criticism for being excessive, leading to last-minute cuts in promised staff raises. In response to these issues, County Executive Bryan Hill urged for a more conservative, “budget of reality” approach for the 2027 fiscal year. This year, both school board and county supervisory staff have collaborated more closely to mitigate unexpected challenges.
Funding Sources and Projections
The budget proposal anticipates a 5.1% increase in county government funding, raising the transfer amount to slightly over $2.84 billion. This request is lower than last year’s ask for $268 million but exceeds a projected $116 million available for funding.
- County government funding request: $2.84 billion
- State funding projected: $861 million
- Federal funding expected to decline to $50 million
- Student enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year: 176,133
Next Steps in the Budget Process
The upcoming public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for February 10, 2026, with a possible extension to February 11. Other key dates include:
- February 17: County Executive Bryan Hill’s budget release
- February 24: Joint meeting of School Board and Board of Supervisors
- April 14: School Board presents its budget to supervisors
- May 5: Board of Supervisors adopts the county budget
- May 21: School Board adopts final budget
- July 1: Fiscal year 2027 budget implementation
As the budget discussions progress, School Board members maintain an optimistic outlook for securing necessary funding. The focus remains on prioritizing staff pay to ensure educational stability and student success across Fairfax County Public Schools.
