Fairfax County teachers' raise cut in half

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale is pulling back half of the raise he proposed for teachers after the cash-strapped county Board of Supervisors denied the school system $61.7 million of the $92.4 million budget increase it requested.

Elimination of a 1 percent pay raise to keep salaries in line with regional competitors would save $18.9 million of the $44.7 million the school board needs to balance the budget. Teachers are still slated to pay 1 percent less toward their retirement, while the school system will make an additional 1 percent contribution, an effective 1 percent raise.