Although the Board of Supervisors won’t approve the budget for fiscal year 2011 for another seven months, that has not stopped area residents from looking ahead to the tumultuous period of debate.

That the case for the South County Federation at its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting, as issues facing the school system and public safety took center stage. At the meeting, the leaders of the federation’s committees presented their priorities for the upcoming year, and because of the looming budget crisis, saving vital programs in schools without added funds dominated discussion.

“In my 20 years [as supervisor], I’ve never seen as much interest in the budget as I have this year from the school folks,” Supervisor Gerry Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) said. “The word is out that significant things may be happening in regards to cuts. This is going to be a tough year not only because of decreased revenues, but because the commitment to education won’t be the same as in the past.”
According to a report compiled by School Board staff, Fairfax County Public Schools face a school budget gap of $176 million. After making many painful cuts across the board last year, Hyland said, finding items to cut would prove much more difficult. As a result, schools are facing program cuts, layoffs and salary freezes, among other things.

Concern over the effect of school cuts on the community, Federation members brainstormed ways to keep programs intact and avoid as many cuts as possible.

The central idea discussed at Tuesday’s meeting in regards to the school budget was to encourage private investment in the public school system, which was roundly supported. Federation President Michael Grogan said that the county lies in the so-called “technology corridor,” and that may of the business in the area came not only because of favorable taxes, but also because of the robust school system. Grogan and fellow Federation members then contended that since these businesses came here in part because of education, it would be in their best interest not to see these programs cut, especially the technology programs.

“Businesses have a real interest in making sure their employees get what [the businesses] brought them here for,” Hyland said. “So, I think we should engage some of the businesses who will be affected by these cuts. These are desperate times, and it will be in their interest to participate.”

So, Federation members floated the idea that businesses donate money to the schools, either to the system as a whole, to individual schools or to specific programs and in return they would possibly receive a tax break. This way, Federation members said, all parties would benefit. The school system would be able to keep their programs and the businesses would not only be able to maintain the education status quo for their employees’ children, but also keep children in programs that would eventually feed into their industries. To accomplish this goal, members suggested approaching businesses through the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, going directly to them and even having businesses send people to schools to serve as club leaders or part-time instructors.

“Here in Fairfax County, you can see why a business would be willing to help,” Grogan said. “But most of these things start organically. Someone would have to sit down and figure out the exact economic impact on these businesses so that we can figure out how to sell it better.”