Fairfax joint fiscal forecast projects $131.5 million shortfall; officials propose shared cuts, state advocacy

Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools on Dec. 2 presented an early fiscal forecast that projects a combined net budgetary shortfall of $131,500,000 for fiscal 2027, and the two boards opened a joint effort to close the gap through agency reductions, contract negotiations and coordinated state advocacy.

County Chief Financial Officer Christina Jackson led the presentation and emphasized the forecast is an early estimate—not an adopted budget. Jackson said the county’s FY27 revenue projection assumes current tax rates and would produce about $225,500,000 in additional revenue at the current real-estate rate of $1.125. "This is a fiscal forecast," Jackson said, adding that the county will adopt a balanced budget and is not permitted to run a deficit.

School finance lead Lee Burden said schools project a $13,200,000 increase in revenue at this stage but cautioned the division’s baseline forecast is nearly $90,000,000 lower than the prior year’s forecast, driven in part by enrollment declines. "At this stage of the fiscal forecast, it's very early for us," Burden said, noting the superintendent’s proposed budget will be released Jan. 22 and will contain more detail.

Officials…