budget

Fairfax schools chief seeks raises for employees; supervisors critical

Jack D. Dale, superintendent of Fairfax County public schools, has announced a plan to introduce significant pay raises for school employees in next year's budget - a proposal that drew immediate criticism from the county's Board of Supervisors.

A tale of two counties

MONTGOMERY COUNTY has just completed a nightmarish budget year. Stressed, squabbling and besieged elected officials savaged services and programs and jacked up taxes to eliminate an eye-popping deficit of almost $1 billion in a $4.3 billion spending plan. Meanwhile, across the Potomac River in Fairfax County, all was sweetness and light by comparison. With a budget roughly equal to Montgomery's, Fairfax officials erased a deficit a quarter as large with relative ease and far less drama.

Fairfax supervisors annoyed but agree to increase funds for needy students

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to commit an extra $1.3 million to public schools for their neediest students -- but not without grumbling over whether the School Board and the superintendent had manipulated the budget and public emotion to secure the funds.