WHY DIDN'T DR. DOMENECH ANNOUNCE THE SCHOOL BUDGET BEFORE THE ELECTION?

Arthur G. Purves, President of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, today criticized Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Daniel A. Domenech, for not announcing the school budget before the November 2, 1999, supervisors' election. On December 6, 1999, Dr. Domenech told the school board that he would need a $112 million increase for FY2001. That is more than double the $50 million increase projected in the County's Adopted FY2000 budget. However, in a letter dated October 19, 1999, Mr. Purves asked Dr. Domenech to tell the voters before the election if the school budget increase would exceed $50 million. In his answer, dated October 21, Dr. Domenech stated he could not provide a figure.

"What did Dr. Domenech learn by December 6 that he did not know before the election?" Mr. Purves asked. "Did the superintendent truly not know that he was going to ask for an increase that was double what the supervisors had budgeted, or was he trying to keep the school budget from becoming an election issue?"

Mr. Purves predicted that the school budget will precipitate a tax increase when the supervisors vote on the county budget in April. "The supervisors are repeating the scenario that followed the 1995 election," Mr. Purves said. "During the elections they deny that they'll raise taxes. Then after the election the schools announce a huge budget increase that gives the supervisors an excuse to raise taxes." Since 1975, per-student spending adjusted for inflation has doubled. Test scores have not improved, and student behavior is worse. "The schools do not spend taxpayer dollars effectively," Mr. Purves concluded.