$460M School Bond To Fund Brick-And-Mortar Projects: Op-Ed

By Kyle McDaniel
At-Large School Board Member

When Fairfax County voters head to the polls this fall, they’ll see more than state and legislative races on the ballot. They’ll once again have the chance to vote on a School Bond Referendum. While a bond referendum doesn't draw the same headlines as the political contests, it is just as important to the future of our community.

School bonds are how we fund the brick-and-mortar foundations of public education. They provide the upgrades, renovations, and expansions that help our schools be safe, modern, and ready for the next generation. A vote for the bond is a vote for the buildings in which our students learn, grow, and prepare for their futures.

This year's $460 million bond will fund essential projects across the county, including design for renovations at Centreville High and Twain Middle, renovations at Cub Run and Union Mill Elementary, and planning for a much-needed western Fairfax high school. These are not "nice to have" initiatives, they're essentials. This bond enables us to make our buildings more energy efficient, bring overcrowding relief to our fastest-growing communities, and tackle major maintenance challenges.

The need is obvious: roofs, classrooms, and HVAC systems that are older cost more to maintain annually. If not addressed, these costs increase, and the learning conditions decline. Fixing these issues now is a money-saver in the long run and keeps our schools excellent places for educating our future.

Just as vital as the why is the how. Bonds are the most fiscally responsible way to pay for these major improvements. Fairfax County's long history of financial prudence has given us a perfect triple-A bond rating from all three rating agencies, the highest rating available. That enables us to borrow at the lowest possible interest rate, which saves taxpayers millions in the long term.

The county also plans bond issuances carefully to prevent tax spikes or sudden increases in debt. The projects are phased in responsibly so that the work gets accomplished without straining annual budgets or compromising on other essential services. In other words, this strategy enables us to invest now, when the needs are clear, while making costs manageable and predictable for the future.

When you vote this fall, I urge you to support this bond, and support what directly affects our lives and our children's lives. These schools are ours, where our children learn, our communities gather, and our future takes shape. These buildings welcome nearly 250,000 people per school day, with hundreds of thousands more throughout the year for community use.

Join me in voting yes for the 2025 School Bond Referendum, because all kids in Fairfax County deserve a great place to learn.

Full Text Of 2025 School Bond Referendum

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $460,000,000 for the purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized, to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties, including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?"