Dan Genz, The Examiner
2007-12-07 08:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

Prince William County school officials say they are losing ground in the competitive Northern Virginia market for hiring teachers and need to raise salaries, but a looming $51 million county budget crisis is sparking concern about whether the money exists.

“We’re losing good people because of our salaries compared to our regional competitors,” school board member Grant Lattin said.

As the county increased teachers’ salaries more than 11 percent over the last four years, neighboring jurisdictions raised their pay at a faster pace, leaving Prince William County’s average salary of $55,000 and $41,000 starting wage among the lowest in Northern Virginia, above only Manassas Park.

The schools can’t raise salaries without more money, Lattin said, which is no easy task given property values that sank 14 percent this year and could worsen.

A school administration report delivered to the board Wednesday warned that the district’s 12 percent annual teacher turnover and ability to attract the strongest candidates is at stake.

The percentage of departing teachers who said they were headed to another Virginia division jumped from 19 percent in 2006 to 33 percent in 2007.

A special committee of two county supervisors and two school board members is meeting to hash out a budget compromise, but its work is challenging.

The county is considering a 16 percent increase in the property tax rate just to keep the average tax bill even. Meeting the schools’ needs could force the rate as high as 25 percent, or an increase of about $257 for the average home.

“The only way we’re going to be able to spend more money on education in the county without a significant tax increase is if Richmond would step up to the plate,” Prince William County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart said. But competition for state funding, given its $641 million deficit, will be fierce in the upcoming General Assembly session.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com