014-00
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGIONAL RESOLUTION REQUESTING GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SUPPORT FOR COMPETITIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDING
WHEREAS, the member jurisdictions of the Lord Fairfax Planning District Commission
jointly recognize the need for quality educational systems as the basis for a competitive workforce;
and
WHEREAS, local school system budgets range from 52 to 71 percent of member city and
county budgets; and
WHEREAS, member county and city sources of revenue are limited to property taxes and
a small portion of the sales tax which is redistributed to local communities; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's revenues are increasing as personal income and retail sales increase
and;
WHEREAS, revenue to localities from real property taxes is not keeping pace with growth
in the public demand for a competitive educational system; and
WHEREAS, the county, city and town jurisdictions believe that the current state and local
tax structure has become unbalanced, and
WHEREAS, Virginia's aid to local governments for education is small compared to other
states and is declining at a time of increasing need; and
WHEREAS, Virginia is below the national average in the amount of state aid per pupil and
is the lowest among nearby southeastern states; and
WHEREAS, lack of proper funding to education leads to deteriorating schools, poor student
performance and a long term weakening of our local and state economies; and
WHEREAS, the quality of our schools affects our local governments ability to compete and
attract quality people and businesses to our region; and
WHEREAS, the significant local cost increases for funding school construction and
operations must be considered in relation to the fact that local incomes have not risen to the State
median for the majority of households in the region; and
REGIONAL RESOLUTION REQUESTING GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SUPPORT FOR COMPETITIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDING
(CONTINUED)
WHEREAS, higher local real estate taxes place a significant burden on our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Frederick County, as a member
jurisdiction of the Lord Fairfax Planning District Commission, joins in requesting that the
Legislative Delegation of the Shenandoah Valley work with localities in seeking additional state
funding assistance for their educational systems for the benefit of the State's future workforce; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Frederick County agrees that the tax structure in
Virginia must be revised to correct the current imbalance that exists between state revenue sources
and local revenue sources and they offer to work with the Legislative Delegation ofthe Shenandoah
Valley to rebalance the equation to create stronger local and state economies.
Adopted this 25th day of October, 2000, by the following recorded vote:
Aye
Charles W. Orndoff, Sr.
Robert M. Sager
Sidney A. Reyes
'4ye
Aye
Ayp ~
Richard C. Shickle
Aye
W. Harrington Smith, Jr.
Margaret B. Douglas
Ave
A COPY TESTE:
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Resolution No.: 014-00