City Council Adopts $65M Budget for FY 2012

Months of discussions in meetings on a Falls Church City Public Schools budget and debates about a city transfer that would allow the school system to give one-time bonuses to teachers culminated in a 5-2 vote Monday night.

FCCPS had received their $27.8 million city transfer and City Council adopted a $65 million budget to operate the city. After Mayor Nader Baroukh gave the final vote on the budget, FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin turned to the teachers still in attendance at the meeting and gave them a thumbs up and a smile.

“I’m thrilled that my last budget will recognize the staff for their hard work,” said Berlin who will be retiring from her post June 30.

The budget was adopted Monday night during a City Council meeting with only two council members, Ira Kaylin and Johannah Barry who both also wanted to decrease the city’s transfer to FCCPS by $390,000, voting not to adopt it budget. Council also voted to increase the city’s real estate tax rate to $1.27 from its current $1.24. That vote carried a 6-1 tally with councilwoman Robin S. Gardner not voting yes. The budget will also fund the library to remain open 64 hours a week with Sunday hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. FCCPS will receive 44 percent of the budget while public safety will receive the next largest chunk of the funds with 14 percent.

Emotions ran over when Berlin exited City Council chambers after the budget was adopted. Berlin and FCCPS Board Chair Joan Wodiska shared a victory hug after a long budget process. Wodiska said public support for the school system and its teachers is what allowed them to get the vote on the flat city transfer. The transfer will also allow the school system to provide breakfast at the four schools for free for students who want to partake in the meal.

“That’s huge,” Wodiska said. “It took a lot of hard work but we did it.”

Jon Pepper, president of the Falls Church City Education Association and a teacher at George Mason High, said he was relieved the budget was adopted. He said City Council did the right thing by adopting the budget that would allow one-time bonuses to FCCPS teachers.

“I think it will improve teacher morale,” Pepper said. “It showed us that we’re appreciated.”

With the fiscal year 2012 budget adopted, City Manager Wyatt Shields said it’s time to start looking at FY 2013. He said the next budget cycle would be talked about during upcoming council meetings. He said council did a great job of bolstering the budget over the last weeks before Monday’s meeting.

“They all really improved it over the last six-weeks,” Shields said. “It went further than what I originally proposed.”

OTHER NEWS

Groundbreaking for the expansion project at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School will be June 13 at 9:30 a.m., FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin announced after the City Council meeting Monday.