Testimony for the Fairfax County School Board FY2027 Budget Hearing - 02/10/2026
-- by Arthur G. Purves, President, Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance
Tie Salaries to Academic Achievement
Members of the School Board:
I am Arthur Purves, president of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance.
For 25 years Fairfax County real estate taxes have been increasing three times faster than household income to pay for raises. Taxpayers are leaving. The GMU Center for Regional Analysis reports that the Arlington-Alexandria-Reston metro area ranks 747 out of 949 for corporate development.
The $138 million transfer increase for FY2027 is a 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate. To justify this, the proposed budget cites SAT scores. What SAT scores really reflect is the affluence of families able to hire tutors. Among our 25 high schools, average SAT scores vary by 300 points, depending on demographics. A truly excellent school system would have high achievement regardless of demographics.
Proposed county and school raises for next year would cost $400 million, for 6% raises. This would increase the real estate tax rate 13 cents and increase the average real estate tax bill $900. This follows 7% raises last year and again this year, making 20% raises in three years. My retirement income decreased over the last three years. Yes, there is a recruitment problem due to decreasing birth rates, but the budget provides no evidence that teachers are leaving en masse for more pay. There should be a salary freeze until achievement, especially in 3rd grade minority reading and arithmetic, increases.
As it is, only five of the 25 high schools have average SAT scores of 1250 or higher, the minimum to get into a competitive college.
Moreover, the district's average SAT score fell 28 points since COVID. Lower scores nationwide do not excuse lower scores here.
Thomas Jefferson's SAT score fell an unprecedented 82 points this year.
Thirty-six percent of FCPS students qualify for subsidized meals. When they graduate, will they be self-sufficient? No, because the school board's goal is to graduate global citizens, not self-sufficient citizens.
The Taxpayers Alliance recommends a salary freeze until:
- The Portrait of a Graduate includes self-sufficiency.
- The board rectifies the 28-point drop in SAT scores.
- The board rectifies the 82-point drop in TJ SAT scores.
- Collectively bargained salaries are tied to academic achievement
- School achievement is high regardless of demographics.
Thank you.