Fairfax and our surrounding communities are fortunate to have a school with so many opportunities for students, that also has such a responsible budget. While this year was intended to be a recovery year, what we have all learned in so many aspects of our lives is that we will be recovering from the global pandemic for years to come.
Planning the coming year’s budget is always an opportunity to look to the future. This year is different only that we have been living through challenges none of us had experienced in our lifetimes and we are now even better positioned to anticipate what will be needed on the other side of COVID.
At the BFA Fairfax Board of School Directors’ meeting on Monday, January 10, 2022, the board warned the coming year’s budget. We are hopeful that, in this current climate we have several numbers in tax payers’ favor.
Our best estimates based on numbers available from the State would show the tax rate in Fairfax decreasing from $1.5007 to $1.4499, a savings of five cents from last year. The total BFA Fairfax budget of $15,251,716 for the coming year.
While our overall school budget represents an increase of $615,624 over last year’s budget and represents a $947.86 increase (6.49%) increase on the per pupil cost, we have several factors working in taxpayers’ favor that, according to the most current estimates still result in an overall tax decrease for this year for Fairfax residents.
Impact on taxes:
Home Value | 1.5007 FY22 | 1.4499 FY23 | -0.0509Increase |
| $200,000 | $3,001 | $2,900 | -$102 |
| $250,000 | $3,752 | $3,625 | -$127 |
| $300,000 | $4,502 | $4,350 | -$153 |
| $350,000 | $5,253 | $5,074 | -$178 |
| $400,000 | $6,003 | $5,799 | -$203 |
This budget includes several additions that we believe will support the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students; will further support the professional needs of staff; and will provide additional resources and opportunities for students, as well as take better care of our infrastructure, buildings and grounds.
We continue to be grateful to the residents and taxpayers of our community for all of the support and flexibility you have so graciously manifested during the pandemic. We are excited to share, what we believe, is a responsible and forward thinking budget, that also reduces the tax burden on our community.
Justin Brown is the Principal at BFA Fairfax Middle School. He is a regular contributor to THE FWSU STORY. You can follow him on Twitter @jbrownenator
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