Watchdog of the Taxpayer's Dollar Since 1956 Fairfax VA

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Fairfax County spending

• Fairfax County residential real estate taxes increasing five times faster than inflation. (Graph)
• Fairfax County residential real estate taxes increasing nearly six times faster than Civil Service retirement pay. (Graph)
• Fairfax County inflation-adjusted spending per resident is at an all-time high. (Graph)
• Fairfax County residential real estate taxes for the 'typical' household are at an all-time high. Graph
• Fairfax County local taxes for the 'typical' household are at an all-time high. Real estate tax hikes are larger than the savings from the car-tax rollback. Graph
• Fairfax County school and non-school staff are outpacing enrollment and population. (Graph)
• Fairfax County school and non-school salaries are at an all-time high. (Graph)
• Fairfax County per-capita taxes and spending are increasing twice as fast as inflation. (Graph)
• The current Fairfax County budget of $2.6 billion is $1.4 billion more than is needed to cover population and inflation growth since 1975. (Graph)
• Over 75 percent of county tax increases are spent on social spending (schools, welfare, and public safety). (Graph)
• Fairfax County bond sales raise only enough revenue to pay the debt service (i.e., there is no bond leverage). (Graph)

Fairfax County non-school spending

• The current Fairfax County non-school budget of $1.2 billion is $500 million more than is needed to cover population and inflation growth since 1975. (Graph)
• Since 1975, Fairfax County inflation-adjusted non-school spending per resident increased 70 percent. Almost none of the increase went to transportation. (Graph)
• Between 1975 and 1991, Fairfax County non-school staff increased more than twice as fast as population. To conceal the enormous growth in County staff prior to 1991, the Supervisors always cite the growth in County staff since 1991. (Graph)
• Since 1975, Fairfax County inflation-adjusted welfare spending per resident has increased 180 percent. (Graph)

Fairfax County Public Schools spending and test scores

• During the administration of Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Daniel A. Domenech, inflation-adjusted spending per student has increased by over $1000. School staff has increased almost twice as fast as enrollment. Nevertheless, in his cover letter for the proposed FY2004 school budget, Dr. Domenech stated that the school budget had been cut and that "Student membership growth continues to outpace available revenue ...". (Graphs)
• The current Fairfax County Public Schools budget of $1.8 billion is $967 million more than needed to cover enrollment and inflation growth of the last 25 years. (Graph)
• Almost none of the extra $967 million is spent on school construction and renovations.
• Since 1975, Fairfax County inflation-adjusted spending per student in public schools increased 100 percent. (Graph)
• Since 1975, Fairfax County Public Schools staff increased almost four times faster than enrollment. (Graph)
• Fourth grade standardized tests show some progress in minority achievement. Ninth grade standardized tests show stagnant scores and a chronic minority student achievment gap. (Graph)
• Since 1972, there has been no significant increase in USA, Virginia, and Fairfax County Public Schools SAT scores. (Graph) (Updated 3/29/06)
• Fairfax County Public Schools have made no significant progress in closing the SAT minority student achievement gap. (Graph) (Updated 3/29/06)
• The average SAT score for Fairfax County Public Schools' seniors is at the 65th percentile. (Graph) (Updated 3/29/06)

Virginia spending

• The personal property (car-tax) cut camouflaged a 40 percent increase in state income taxes per household. (Graph)
• Virginia's "budget crisis" occurred because spending based on overly optimistic revenue projections made during the "dot-com" bubble. (Graph)
• In the four years leading up to Virginia's "budget crisis", Virginia's inflation-adjusted revenues increased 4.4 percent per year, which was almost twice the long-term average rate of revenue increase, which was 2.3 percent per year. (Graph)
• The current Virginia budget of $24 billion is $9 billion more than needed to cover population and inflation growth since 1984. (Graph)
• Only one percent of the extra $9 billion was spent on transportation. (Graph) Seventy-five percent went to social spending (public education, public safety, and welfare). The car tax cut accounts for only one-tenth of the $9 billion.
• Since 1975, Virginia inflation-adjusted spending per student in public schools increased 70 percent. (Graph)
• Over the last 20 years, there has been no significant increase in Virginia SAT scores. (Graph)
• Since 1979, Virginia inflation-adjusted spending per student in public colleges increased 35 percent. (Graph)
• Over the last 20 years, Virginia inflation-adjusted spending per resident for Individual and Family Services increased 66 percent. (Graph)
• Since 1975, Virginia inflation-adjusted spending per resident for Administration of Justice (includes prisons) increased 150 percent. (Graph)
• Since 1975, Virginia inflation-adjusted spending per resident for transportation has not increased. (Graph)
• Virginia does not spend income taxes, the state's major source of revenue, on transportation.
• Of the 4 1/2 cents state sales tax, only 1/2 cent is dedicated to transportation.
• Due to excessive bond sales, Virgnia's borrowing leverage is eroding. (Graph)

Updated March 29, 2006