Arlington County school officials are urging the county to raise taxes even higher than planned to help pay for an expected surge in enrollment.
The county is considering a 3.2 cent tax hike to cover a $22 million shortfall in its 2014 budget.The Washington Examiner reports
that school officials want taxes raised by another half cent for a total increase of 3.7 cents.
School Board Chairwoman Emma Violand-Sanchez says the increase would raise about $3 million to prepare for 1,000 new students expected to enroll next year.
The school system faces a $25 million shortfall. Superintendent Patrick Murphy proposed a budget that consolidates some programming and eliminates 62 positions.
The county manager's current proposal would increase school funding by nearly $11 million. But school officials say that's not enough.
