FY2012 Fairfax County Proposed Budget

February 22, 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

At today’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting, County Executive Tony Griffin gave testimony regarding his proposed county budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. I wanted to give the membership some highlights of what was proposed. Again, let me underscore – what was presented today to the BOS by County Executive Griffin is a proposal.

Mr. Griffin is referring to next year’s budget as “Stable.” FY2012 Budget Recommendations include:

* A Balanced Budged, no expansion to the budget
* No Real Estate tax rate increase
* Spending increases cover only critical requirements
* Limited infrastructure investment
* The FY2012 proposal could result in an available balance for $30M for the BOS to deliberate

As it relates to compensation (pay enhancements) and benefits–

* The county executive is recommending for the 3rd consecutive year – NO PAY RAISES
* Commit $15.4M over all 3 retirement systems
* Continue funding the $220 per/month subsidy to off-set retire healthcare premiums and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) at a cost of $10.1M
* Projected health insurance premium increase of 10% of $8.7M of the “employer’s” share, employees would bear the 10% out of pocket costs
* Line of Duty Act – Healthcare benefits for public safety personnel disabled in the line of duty. The county would be obligated to reimburse the state for these payments at a cost of $0.6M. At this time, the county is not certain if the state will shift the unfunded mandate to localities. More to come.
* County Executive did inform the BOS about using the $30M for some kind of pay enhancement or bonus. According to the county executive a 1% pay raise for all general employees and public safety personnel would cost approximately $7.9M. Additionally, the county executive stated to restore compensation fully (steps, COLAs, and MRAs) for all county employees (to include the schools) would be over $100M.
* A Proposed New Employee compensation Model comprised of 2 components –

1. Pay for Performance (PFP) rating would be between 0-3%

2. Market Rate Adjustment (MRA) between 1 and 3 percent

3. Both PFP and MRA will be contingent upon available funding

* The Fire Chief is still required to cut 1% or $1.5M of the 3rd Quarter of the FY2011. All agencies were required to “give-up” 1% of FY2011 – 3rd Quarter.

The county executive is recommending holding the Real Estate Tax Assessment Rate @ $1.09 per $100 assessed. The BOS voted on the “advertised” assessment rate ceiling of $1.09. This means that even after the public input, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors must enact a Real Estate Tax Assessment Rate of $1.09 per $100 of assessed value or less. The vote remained with party lines, in other words, all 7 Democratic Supervisors voted for it while the 3 Republican Supervisors voted against the advertised rate. In fact, the 3 Republican Supervisors wanted to reduce the advertised assessment rate to $1.06 ½. Their motion failed along the same lines. For your information, each penny that is increased or decreased as it relates to the Real Estate Tax Rate equates to approximately $19.3M.

If the Real Estate Tax Assessment Rate remains at $1.09 per $100 assessed, on average, homeowners would have a modest annual tax increase. Obviously, where house assessments have increased the higher tax rate the homeowners would bear.

Some other items of interest –

* The county executive is not recommending an increase to the public school transfer operations
* Of the General Fund Disbursements, public safety is second at 12.2% of the budget while schools are first at 52.2% of the General Fund, and Health and Human Services/Welfare is third at 11.3% of budget.

1. Schools - $1.8B

2. Public Safety - $411M

3. Human Services $382M

* The General Fund Revenue Growth Rate did grow over last year’s FY2011 Adopted level at 3.1%
* Residential real estate assessments are growing, however; foreclosures did increase 5.8% since last December – 2009.
* Non-residential real estate values are also on the raise. The county executive did however, caution the BOS that while the numbers appear to be favorable the economy is still not where it should be and FY13 and FY14 will be difficult fiscal years as well.

Here’s what your union will be doing for you. I’ve tasked Secretary/Treasurer Dan Gray with chairing the Local’s Budget Committee. The recommendations/positions from the committee will be brought forth to the Executive Board and subsequently to the membership for your support. The local’s principal officers will be meeting with each of the Board of Supervisors individually informing them of our issues relative to the FY2012 Budget. I can assure you that not only will no layoffs and no reduction in Safe Staffing will be on our list, but maintaining our current Defined Benefit Pension System and finding ways to obtain a compensation enhancement will most certainly be added to our “List of Issues.”

To read more about the FY2012 Fairfax County Budget, go to:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/

As information becomes available relative to the FY2012 Budget, the membership will be kept well informed.

Respectfully Submitted and In Solidarity,

John R. Niemiec

President

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