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Updated June 19, 2001
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Updated June 19, 2001 |
March 31, 1998
Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly have undermined Governor Jim Gilmore's plan to reduce the car tax. They have taken millions of dollars from the amount needed to refund the car tax and diverted it to school construction. Statewide, there is a $6 billion backlog in school construction. Normally, local governments pay for school construction.
If Fairfax County is typical, local governments don't need state aid for school construction.
Between 1975 and 1991 Fairfax County taxes increased much faster than inflation and population. Due to these increases, the County collects an extra $900 million each year.
Rather than use the extra taxes to catch up on school construction, the Fairfax County government and the Fairfax County Public Schools hired extra personnel. Between 1975 and 1999, County staff will have increased by 146%, almost twice as much as population, which increased 75%. School staff will have increased 55%, four times more than enrollment, which increased 13%.
If County and school staff had not increased faster than population and enrollment, the County would have had 2800 fewer employees, the schools would have had 5300 fewer employees, and the County budget would have been $400 million less. The County could have eliminated the car tax, whose annual revenues are about $360 million. The remaining $40 million would have eliminated the School Board's shortfall for school construction.
Last summer the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance asked the chairmen of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board to tell how the tax increases are being spent. Supervisors chairman, Katherine K. Hanley, did not provide a complete accounting, so it is not possible to evaluate the increases in County staff. However, the Supervisors new plan to streamline the County government eliminates only 35 of the 2800 extra positions. Even though the Supervisors have not justified past tax increases, they now want to impose another tax in the form of a stormwater utility fee.
Kristen J. Amundson, former chairman of the School Board, did provide a complete accounting. Since 1975 schools have hired 4000 more teachers, 900 more administrators and clerical staff, and 400 more guidance counselors, social workers, and psychologists than were needed to keep up with enrollment.
Despite the extra teachers, student achievement is still low. Fairfax County Public Schools average SAT score is at the 65th percentile. This means that 35% of American students score higher than the average Fairfax County student. In addition, only half of all Fairfax County high school graduates who go to four-year colleges graduate from college.
Despite the extra guidance counselors, student behavior is worse. Since 1991 expulsion cases heard by the school board each year have increased 500%. The County now has to station policemen in every high school.
The School Board spends millions on ineffective programs. Two examples are the seven-period day and smaller class sizes.
Starting in 1991, the School Board hired hundreds of extra teachers so middle- and high school students could take seven classes a day instead of six. However, how much are students really learning? College Board achievement tests are a better measure of student achievement than SATs. Last year, Fairfax County Public Schools average scores on College Board Writing and Math IIC achievement tests were at the 50th percentile. To raise achievement, students need to study harder in fewer classes.
The School Board also spends $5 million a year to reduce first grade class sizes in selected schools to 15 students. The goal is for students to "become proficient readers" and "to become proficient in mathematics." The schools own evaluation of this program showed that by the time these students reach the 4th grade, they score only slightly better on standardized tests than students from regular classes. In reading and math , students from smaller classes scored at 50th and 57th percentiles compared to the 46th and 54th percentiles for students from regular classes.
Voters should stop believing that more money will improve schools. Schools statewide have spent billions in funding increases on ineffective programs. Schools need more money; they need a better curriculum. With a better curriculum, schools would need fewer staff and be able to fund school construction. Governor Gilmore's plan to reduce the car tax should have been fully funded.
Arthur G. Purves
President
Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance
purves@fcta.org
www.fcta.org