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Falls Church leaders present lean FY2027 budget, sparking questions on paving, housing and police pay
Summary
School and city officials outlined a tight FY2027 budget that holds the school transfer at a 4.1% increase while the city proposes modest overall growth and targeted investments in police pay; council members pressed staff on reduced paving, affordable-housing funding and vacant positions slated for defunding.
Chair Kathleen Tice of Falls Church City Public Schools and City Manager Shields presented competing but related budget requests at the March 23 Falls Church City Council meeting, saying both the school system and the city face narrow margins and uncertain external revenue.
"This is truly the leanest budget possible," Chair Kathleen Tice said, explaining the school request includes a 4.1% local transfer and cuts made by leveraging attrition and realigning staff. Tice told council that the school division relies on Falls Church City for roughly 81% of its operating revenue and that health insurance and debt service for the new high school are key pressures.
City Manager Shields presented the proposed general government budget, outlining a $134 million package and a $162 million capital improvements program with $100 million earmarked for transportation. Shields said the manager's proposal does not raise the real estate tax rate but includes utility fee increases, a 14% average pay increase for police officers at the lieutenant rank and below,…
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