Examiner Local Editorial: What ails Fairfax schools? Not a lack of funds

Fairfax County Public Schools will spend $2.4 billion this year to educate 181,500 students, of which $1.68 billion — or 70 percent — comes right from the pockets of county taxpayers. Most of it will be spent on staff salaries, benefits and cost-of-living increases. But according to school officials, who already spend half of all county revenue, it’s still not enough.

As The Examiner’s Lisa Gartner reports, FCPS wants a 9 percent increase in the county transfer next year to close a $150 million budget gap — the largest in recent memory. Given Fairfax County’s own looming $100 million deficit, it’s not very realistic.