Superintendent Reveals Proposed Budget for 2012

Prince William County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts unveiled his budget for the 2012 fiscal year to the school board last night.

The main points that Walts highlighted in his proposed budget were that there will not be a reduction in force, employees will not receive a pay raise for the second year in a row and that all current programs and services will still be supported.

In his speech, Walts noted that the latest report from the Washington Area Boards of Education still ranks the school system with the lowest cost-per-pupil in the metropolitan area.

For the 2011-2012 school year, Walts said that the system will be using monies from state and federal funding and tax-rate budget from the Board of County Supervisors. The operating budget of $796,801,469 would receive a 4.8 percent increase in funds.

Walts said in his speech that the combined operating and debt service budget would be $864,313,653 – a 5.6 percent increase in funds.

Funds for the 2011-2012 school year will account for a major increase in Virginia Retirement System (VRS) costs – of which all new employees would be required to pay a five percent share of their VRS cost –, a 6.85 percent increase in health insurance costs, no increase in the price of a school lunch, 15-cent increase in price for breakfast.

The school system, with the proposed budget, would be able to move forward with the Capital Improvement Program which includes the opening of new high and elementary schools: Patriot High School and T. Clay Wood Elementary School.

In addition, a new elementary school will come to fruition on Linton Hall Road, construction would continue at Silver Lake Middle School and the PACE West replacement school. Swans Creek and Westridge elementary schools will also see additions; Pennington and Pattie elementary schools in Manassas would be renovated.

The monies would also account for a one-time employee bonus of one percent in the second half of the school year, which would be evenly divided, on March 30 and June 29 paychecks.

On Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. there will be a public meeting on the proposed 2011-2012 proposed budget at the Kelly Leadership Center in rooms 1101, 1011 A&B.  

To view the entire proposed budget, click here. Dr. Walts' comments can be viewed by clicking the attached PDF.