County staff outline how House and Senate budget amendments would affect Fairfax services and schools

County staff on Feb. 14 reviewed House and Senate changes to the governor—s proposed budget and described several items that would affect Fairfax County operations and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Albano Sanva, revenue division director with the Department of Management and Budget, said both chambers preserved a 3% salary increase from the adopted budget and added one-time bonus proposals for constitutional officers and state-supported local employees. He said the House and Senate versions differ on the size of the state—s bonus share: "If we were to do bonuses in fiscal year 26, we would receive approximately 500,000 in additional state funding from the compensation board in the House version and approximately 700,000 in the Senate version," he said, adding that the county would need to fund the full bonus cost for employees not reimbursed by the Compensation Board.

Sanva highlighted items tied to recent sealing/expungement legislation, noting the House budget would fund 120 paralegal positions for commonwealth—s attorneys and the House and Senate both include funding for deputy clerks to handle increased workload. "The House budget provides 5,800,000 to fund 120 paralegal positions for Commonwealth Attorney's Offices," Sanva said, and he added the Senate numbers reflect partial-year funding.

Education funding changes in the amendments would also affect FCPS. Sanva said the House and Senate include roughly $223 million in fiscal 2026 to recognize support positions under the school funding formula; he estimated FCPS would receive about $20.3 million from that item. Both chambers included an add-on to basic aid for special education students (the budget language provides $52.8 million statewide), producing an estimated $5.4 million to FCPS in fiscal 2026. Both chambers also proposed a $1,000 one-time bonus for SOQ-funded instructional and support positions, but Sanva said the county and FCPS would still face net costs after accounting for the state share: "The cost to FCPS to provide a bonus is 37,200,000. So after accounting for the state share, the net cost to FCPS is still 16,900,000."

Other budget items flagged by staff include funding for stormwater grants (House $15 million; Senate $40 million), a pair of housing grants and pilots (including $15 million for a family rental assistance pilot and the restoration of a manufactured-home-park acquisition pilot), and the removal by both chambers of the proposed car tax credit while including a refundable income tax rebate. Sanva also called attention to a Senate amendment allowing counties and cities to impose an additional local sales-and-use tax up to 1% dedicated to school construction if approved by referendum.

County staff repeatedly cautioned that some items remain uncertain until final conference negotiations conclude. Ariel McAloon, human services legislative liaison, noted reductions in funding for conservators in hospitals from the governor—s proposal and highlighted funding for behavioral health pilots and prevention staff that could help replace expiring ARPA-funded services.

Supervisor questions focused on detail and local effects. Supervisor Lusk asked whether the sealing/expungement language mirrored provisions mentioned earlier by the clerk; staff confirmed they were the same. Supervisor Paltrow pressed for clarity on FCPS staff counts used to calculate bonus costs; Sanva said the figures were supplied by FCPS and staff would follow up.

Why it matters: the House and Senate amendments alter the county—s expected state reimbursements for court and school support positions and create both new state-funded positions and local funding obligations, decisions that will be resolved as legislators finish conference work.

Looking ahead: staff said they will continue to monitor conference negotiations in Richmond and work with FCPS and local departments to clarify net local costs and operational impacts.