for the week of April 29-May 5, 2010

city

MAY 2010Questions or Comments?City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046703-248-5003 (TTY 711)The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

1 Farmers’ M

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4 Economic Development Authority

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5 Recreation & Parks Advisory Board, 7 p.m.

Architectural Advisory Board, 7:45 p.m.

3 Yard Waste, Bundled Brush

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City Council Work Session, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

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The Falls Church City Council unanimously approved a Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget that retains core general government services and fully funds the City schools request. The FY11 budget totals $64,040,348 – 6.8 percent less than the current year – and includes an increase in the real estate tax rate of 17 cents from $1.07 to $1.24 per $100 of assessed value. The school transfer for FY11 will be $27,861,600. The 2011 fiscal year runs from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

The budget provides an addition-al $1.3 million for fund balance res-toration in support of future capital improvements. The FY11 Budget also restores fund balance to within Council adopted policy limits. The City Council will hold first reading on the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) on May 10 and second reading and scheduled adoption on May 24.

Other Budget Details • FY11 Budget: $64,040,348

• General government expendi-tures down 8.5%

• School Board transfer down 6%

• Real estate tax rate increase to $1.24

• No change in water and sewer rates

• Pay freeze for all employees (second year for gen-eral government)

• 17.5 general government positions eliminated

• Partial funding for the GEORGE bus for continued service until fall 2010

• Mary Riley Styles Public Library to close Sundays and reduced hours during the week

• Reduced the hours of operation at the Community Center

• July 4, 2011 fireworks cancelled

• Cancelling the City’s cash contribution to the Watch Night Celebration for Dec. 31, 2010.

For more information on the FY11 Adopted Budget, visit www.fallschurchva.gov. Copies of the final budget will be available online in the coming weeks.

City Council Approves FY 2011 BudgetIncludes City Program Reductions, Fully Funds Schools Request, And 17-cent Increase in Real Estate Tax Rate

Real Estate Tax Increase Effect2009 median home value $605,950

• Tax: $1.07 per 100 = $6,483

2010 median home value $587,300

• Proposed tax: $1.24 per $100 = $7,282

• Increase of $799

Tax Increases in the Region Since 2008• 28 cents: Average Increase in Tax Rate in Northern Virginia

• 23 cents: Falls Church City

Property Tax (Real Estate) 59%

Education 43%

Public Safety 12%

Public Works 9%

Recreation, Parks & Library 7%

Health & Welfare 3%Judicial Administration 5%

Administration 8%

Debt Service 8%

Personal Property Tax 5%

Sales Tax 5%

Business Licenses 4%

Other Taxes 10%

Permits 1% Community Development 2%

State 6%

Fees & Recovered Costs 10%

Capital & Reserves 3%

For every dollar the City gets... ...this is what it’s spent on.

Operating Budget Reductions FY2010 FY2011 %Change

General Government 32,207,181 29,475,278 -8.5%School Transfer 29,624,825 27,861,600 -6.0% Debt Service *5,142,380 5,085,220 -1.1% 66,974,386 62,422,098 -6.8%*2/3 Schools; 1/3 General Government

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School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, visit www.fccps.org - the official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news.

BIE Partner of the WeekCarol KleinFalls Church Foot & Ankle

School involvement: Worked with Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School to arrange a shoe collection. The bags and boxes of shoes donated by students will be sent to people in Haiti and Falls Church’s Sister City, Kokolopori.

Why Carol is a BIE partner: “This project is a great way to con-nect middle school students to the world. Donating shoes is both simple and important. At Falls Church Foot & Ankle, we are glad to be able to facilitate this kind of student kindness to others.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Calendar for April 29 - May 5, 2010TestingNow – 5/7 SRI Post Test (MEH/GM) Now – 5/7 STAMP (Foreign Language) (MEH/GM)4/ 30 IB/SBS Exam (GM)5/4 – 28 PALS Post Test (MD/TJ)5/4 – 24 IB Exams (GM)April29 4:00 p.m. Potomac School @ Mason (B Tennis) 7:15 p.m. Potomac Falls @ Mason (G Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Potomac Falls (B Lacrosse)30 6:00 p.m. Haiti Relief Pasta Dinner (MEH) 6:00 p.m. Wakefield @ Mason (G Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Wakefield @ Mason (B Lacrosse)May1 10:00 a.m. Boys Varsity Soccer Car Wash (GM) 2:00 p.m. Colonial Beach @ Mason (Baseball/Softball)3 Professional Day (Schools Closed/Day Care Open) 6:30 p.m. Mason @ Lee High (Softball) 7:00 p.m. Joint Gifted & Talented/Special Education

Adv. Committees (TJ) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Dominion (B Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Dominion @ Mason (G Lacrosse) 4 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Episcopal High (B Tennis) 5:00 p.m. Clarke Co. @ Mason (Baseball/Softball) 7:00 p.m. Mason @ Clarke Co. (B Soccer) 7:00 p.m. Clarke Co. @ Mason (G Soccer)5 2:45 p.m. FCCPS Benefits Fair (MEH) 4:00 p.m. Yorktown @ Mason (B Tennis) 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Yorktown (G Tennis) 5:00 p.m. Manassas @ Mason (Track) 7:30 p.m. PTSA Meeting (GM)

For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary(MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle

(GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

Foundation FootnotesAnnual Fundraising Dinner Draws 240 Donors The Falls Church Education Foundation’s 6th Annual Dinner Celebration was held on April 23rd at the Westin Arlington Gateway. This year 240 school families, faculty, sponsors and supporters enjoyed the event featuring entertainment by the George Mason Jazz Ensemble and professional jazz vocalist, Ericka Ovette. Approximately $70,000 was raised in support of foundation operations and school initiatives such as new technology for the elementary schools and Challenge Day at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.

The Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For information about the Falls Church Education Foundation, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at denglander@fcedf.org.

FCC-TV Spotlight: Falls Church News Press Candidate ForumStill unsure about the upcoming election? Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to see the Falls Church News-Press Candidate Forum. This roundtable gives residents of Falls Church City a chance to hear more from the candidates running for positions on the city council. You can catch FCNP Candidate Forum on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Friday at 5:00 p.m. • Saturday at 4:00 p.m. • Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywhere in the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.

FCCPS Foreign Language Students Take Top Honors

Six Falls Church City Public Schools students are advancing to the National History Day competi-tion in College Park, Maryland in June. They are among eleven students from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (MEHMS) and George Mason High School (GMHS) who successfully competed in the second round of the National History Day state competition last week.

First place honors went to Sarah Miller (MEHMS) and Crystal Luo (GMHS) in the Historical Paper category.

Other winners from George Mason High School include Fae Montgomery and Honora Overby who won first place for their performance. Jessica Kemp and Alissa Forbes earned second place honors for their historical exhibit. Third place honors went to Calder Hannan in the Historical Paper category, and to Scott Connuck, Sarah Devlin, Liam O’Connell, and Meredith Brindley for their documentary.

All first and second place winners will advance to the national competition.

FCCPS History Buffs Head to National Competition

Students in George Mason’s Chinese II language class are tops in the region for the second year in a row; bringing home first place awards in last week’s Northern Virginia Modern Foreign Language Tournament. The competition involves more than 175 language learners from high schools across Virginia.

First place honors went to Elsie Poon and Benjaminn Tran for their Chinese original skit; and to Brian Highman, Joe Reich and Reilly Culhoone for their Chinese dramatic interpretation.

In the French 5 competition, Katie Buenneke finished in third place in the Oral Interpretation of Poetry non-native category, and in the Spanish 2 competition, Lilly Constance earned third place honors for Spanish Oral Interpretation of Poetry.

The students competed under the direction of faculty spon-sors Tina Kao, Chin Mah and Suzanne Planas.

Six FCCPS students are advancing to the National History Day national competition in June. Pictured with their sponsors Rory Dippold (l) and Jeremy Shumpert (far right) are (l to r) Sarah Miller, Honora Overby, Fae Montgomery, Jessica Kemp, Alissa Forbes and Crystal Luo.

Save The DateTuesday, May 18th

5:30 p.m.Celebrate with Us

Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year

Support Staff Employee of the Year

MEHMS Cafetorium

Sunday, May 16th Noon to 4:00 p.m.For ticket information visit

www.fallschurchpta.org/hgtour