The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors welcomed multiple state lawmakers who represent the area this past Tuesday (Dec. 16) for an “open exchange of ideas” ahead of next month’s legislative session in Richmond.
As laid out in the 2026 legislative program adopted earlier this month, the local leaders pointed to funding for K-12 education, the need to increase the area’s housing supply, Metro funding and assistance with “responding to changing federal landscapes” as top priorities.
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez, who chairs the board’s legislative committee, opened the discussion by noting how drastic changes to the federal workforce in recent months have had a dramatic influence on the local economy.
“We know that decisions made in Washington D.C. have significant consequences for our state and local budgets, our economy and our communities,” Jimenez said. “Few places feel these impacts more directly than Fairfax County.”
Jimenez emphasized the county’s dependence on federal employees, including roughly 82,000 who call Fairfax County home. Local efforts to assist laid-off federal workers and contractors have had a positive impact, but further intervention is needed to grow the scope of available resources.
“Our program responds to federal workforce uncertainty by connecting displaced workers and contractors to skilled, aligned opportunities, strengthening small business support, innovation, job initiatives and workforce training,” he said.
Financial concerns dominated the discussion, both in terms of addressing a lack of financial resources in certain areas and possible new ways to address spending.
With regard to K-12 education, the Board of Supervisors expressed an interest in making “structural changes” to the state’s current funding formula to adjust pay in high cost-of-living areas — an issue the board has contended for years disproportionately affects Fairfax and other Northern Virginia localities.
“Education is and remains a cornerstone of Fairfax County’s success, but the current state funding formula for K-12 education is outdated and leaves the county with an increasingly difficult fiscal burden,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez also noted the need for dedicated funding for Metro and Fairfax Connector, as recommended by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ DMV Moves initiative.
“Sustainable dedicated funding is critical for these systems,” he said, “but it cannot come at the expense of other regional transportation projects or community services.”
County officials have long been on the offensive when it comes to adding affordable housing, and expect to remain focused on achieving their goal of 10,000 new units in the years ahead.
Though the Board of Supervisors has objected to legislation that it fears will reduce local authority over land use matters, members indicated at Tuesday’s work session that state action to increase the availability of such units would still be welcome.
“We have a very good problem here, which is housing is expensive and in high demand because a lot of people want to live here,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “The problem is too often they can’t afford to.”
Jimenez emphasized the need for partnership between local and state officials in order to adequately address the board’s top priorities.
“There’s one word I think you’ll find today that I keep underlining, and I hope you have noticed,” Jimenez told attendees. “It’s the word ‘collaboration,’ because that is how we move forward.”
McKay echoed Jimenez, emphasizing an open dialogue between the two levels of government.
“We know that while this is one meeting, the discussion of our legislative priorities takes place throughout the calendar year and gets more intense during the General Assembly, for sure,” he said. “This is not just one meeting, but this is part of an ongoing fluid conversation.”
The upcoming legislative session for Virginia’s General Assembly begins on Jan. 14, running 60 days before adjourning sine die on March 15.
