Today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to increase funding for schools by $104 million and made strategic investments that protect the quality of life in Fairfax County. After amending County Executive Ed Long's FY2017 Advertised Budget at "Budget Mark-Up" last week, the Board voted 7-3 in favor of a $1.13 tax rate for FY2017, an increase from the FY2016 rate of $1.09 per $100 of assessed value. The 4-cent increase will generate approximately $93 million in additional County revenue that will invest in valued County services such as education, public safety and human services.
As our Board's Budget Committee Chairman, I've been working to strike a balance between all of our great County services and the financial challenges that many of our homeowners are feeling. We listened to hundreds at hearings, town hall meetings, in letters, emails, phone calls, etc. about their strong opinions and budget advice. I believe that this budget addresses what we heard.
We're committed to investing in what makes our County great: its schools, its employees, and its services. Education is absolutely a top priority -- and this budget reflects that. I'm also pleased to be able to make crucial steps forward in the areas of public safety, human services, parks, libraries, and many of our other vital County services. I have no doubt that our Board's investment today will have a major positive impact on Fairfax County.
The major change the Board made to the County Executive's Advertised Budget was to provide an additional $33.6 million to Schools. This was done by allocating an entire penny of the tax rate and using reallocated funds from Third Quarter Review. With FCPS receiving 52.7% of the County's General Fund budget, the elected School Board will have enough funds to address teacher compensation, preserve existing programs, and begin working to decrease class sizes.
In this budget package, the School Operating Transfer increased by $88.4 million, or 4.84% over FY2016. Including School Debt Service and School Capital Needs, total support for schools increased by over $104 million, or 5.18%. By comparison, the non-school side of the County's General Fund Budget increased by 4.35% (or 4.91% including allocations to County reserves).
There was some good news specifically for South County in this year's budget, too. Funds for the maintenance and future use of Old Mount Vernon High School, as well as dollars towards the construction of a new police station in Lorton, were included. A new station in South County will reduce response times countywide, especially in Mount Vernon and Lee Districts.
It was no doubt a tough budget year. We know that many of our citizens are struggling in this sluggish economy and continued increases in the real estate tax rate are not sustainable. Collaboration between our Board and the School Board, revenue diversification from Richmond, and potential efficiencies in County programming are very important moving forward.
