March 30 - April 5, 2023
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • V o l . X X X III No. 7
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
Shields Offers Budget With No Change In Tax Rate
PLAY BALL!
Focus is Employees on Both City, School Sides by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
At the Falls Church City Council meeting Monday night, City Manager Wyatt Shields presented his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (beginning July 1) that proposes no change in the City’s real estate tax rate which now stands at $1.23 per $100 of assessed valuation. This comes despite the efforts by both the City government and the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) School Board to offer higher than usual compensation packages for their employees in the context of post-pandemic malaise, and heightened competition for quality work in the surrounding region. The overall budget recommendation is to fund $118,382,643 in government ($48,346,511) and school ($49,583,251) services (the rest for debt service and capital reserves) for the City’s 15,000 residents in its 2.2 square miles, up 4.9 percent from the current year. Deliberation on the proposed
Continued on Page 5
FALLS CHURCH KIWANIS LITTLE LEAGUE kicked off their 75th anniversary season Saturday, March 25th. Despite the rain they were able to proceed with their opening cermonies and parade (pictured above). (Photo: Dave Crance)
F.C. School Board OKs Collective Bargaining
Special to the News-Press
At its meeting this Tuesday, the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) School Board unanimously passed a resolution to grant public school teachers and staff collective bargaining rights, empowering them to
organize and elect a union or association capable of negotiating labor contracts encompassing wages, benefits, and specific working conditions. In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly authorized local governments to extend collective bargaining rights to pub-
lic workers. In April 2022, the Falls Church City School Board directed the Board Chair to establish a special school staff and management committee to develop a draft Resolution on Collective Bargaining for the Board’s consideration. The committee’s work resulted in a
22-page draft Resolution that was presented to the School Board earlier this month. The Resolution maintains the School Board’s right to determine budgets and take necessary actions during emergencies.
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Inside This Week Spring Health & Wellness Issue
March Madness, Sports & More
See Pages 7-10
See Pages 13, 14
FCNP’s Spring Health & Wellness issue is here! Articles about how the Falls Church community is spreading awarness about fentanyl, as well as a local organization that promotes physical activity and community.
Don’t miss how a local basketball star leads his college team to the Final 4 in Houston. Falls Church Little League Kiwanis open their season and see what’s happening at Merdian High School as spring sports are underway.
Index
News Briefs..............................................2 Comment........................................6,11,12 Editorial......................................................6 Crime Report...........................................12 School News...........................................15 News & Notes....................................16,17 Calendar.............................................18,19 Classifieds...............................................20 Business News.......................................23