Members of Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation are asking county supervisors and school board members to lower the rhetoric when it comes to state funding for local K-12 education.
“Be thoughtful about the way you talk,” Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D-16) told the Board of Supervisors during an Oct. 6 joint work session between the board and the county’s state legislative representatives.
During the meeting, state lawmakers expressed concern about the criticism they’ve received related to Virginia’s funding for public schools, which is now at a record $2 billion under the 2026-2028 budget signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in June.
However, a 2023 study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts policy evaluations and provides oversight of state agencies for the General Assembly, found that Virginia spends approximately $1,900 less per student on average than other states in the U.S. due to outdated or imprecise formulas.
Fairfax County leaders have pointed to the study as evidence of the state insufficiently funding local schools after it estimated that Fairfax County and Fairfax City schools would be owed over $568 million more under revised formulas. About 70% of Fairfax County Public Schools’ $4.1 billion budget is funded by the county, which relies heavily on real estate taxes for revenue.
While legislators seldom have directly pushed back against the criticism, “we continually feel like this,” Cohen said, clenching her two hands into fists and hitting them against one another.
She was not alone in asking county leaders to stop blaming Richmond.
“Being respectful and thoughtful in the way we interact is the first step” to a better relationship, said state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38).
The topic of education funding took over and at times threatened to derail the second half of the 100-minute work session.
Del. Kathy Tran (D-18) was among the first to express displeasure at county leaders laying the blame for funding roadblocks at the feet of the 22-member, all-Democratic Fairfax legislative delegation.
She pushed county leaders to “help build a constructive relationship.”
Cohen noted that the General Assembly recently gave localities the option of holding referendums to increase the state sales tax, with the revenue going to schools for construction projects. Northern Virginia jurisdictions would also have the option to allocate funding to public transportation.
With the exception of Fairfax City, which is asking voters to approve a 1% increase on the Nov. 3 ballot, Northern Virginia jurisdictions have opted not to hold referendums this year.
“There is always a reason given for why we don’t want to do it,” she said of county leaders not taking advantage of new authorities offered by the state.
The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously in June to support adding a sales tax referendum on the ballot this year, but the proposal wasn’t addressed by the Board of Supervisors. All seats on both local boards will be up for election in November 2027.
Cohen also said it would be unfair to criticize downstate legislators as failing to fund education.
“Any member of our House, no matter where they’re from, education is their No. 1 priority,” she said.
By the time the discussion wound down, participants seemed to see the attempt to get on the same page as a success.
“We’re all speaking with each other rather than at each other,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.
“This conversation is how we get to a better answer,” said Del. Karen Keys Gamarra (D-7).
While it sometimes may not look like it, “we’re actually on the same team,” Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman said.
