Fairfax Threatens to Sue VA Over School Funding

January 14, 2010

 Fairfax County leaders are threatening to sue Virginia if the state follows a budget stopgap plan from outgoing Gov. Tim Kaine that they say would further cripple school budgets.

At their first meeting of the year Tuesday, county supervisors pledged to push Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell to kill the provision that would freeze a school funding formula for 2011.

The Local Composite Index compiles income and retail sales data, among other factors, to determine state education funding for counties.

Fairfax leaders say their score reflects a rosier economy, rather than the budget troubles they’re facing. They say wealthier areas like northern Virginia have been shouldering too much of the state’s education costs.

Superintendent Jack Dale has proposed drastic cuts, including larger class sizes.