Fairfax County is once again chewing on the possibility of a meals tax — and this time, it won’t need a public vote for approval.
The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 yesterday (Tuesday) to instruct County Executive Bryan Hill and his staff to develop strategies for broadening the county’s revenue sources as it seeks to reduce the growing tax burden on homeowners. One option could be a tax on food and drink sales.
Audit Identifies Metro Safety Issues — “Metro has deployed rail cars that failed operations tests and neglected to follow occupational safety guidelines, according to an audit the transit agency’s regulator released Tuesday. The audit…provides a damning portrait of Metro operations, though it doesn’t suggest the system poses a significant danger to riders.” [Washington Post]
Dulles Greenway Toll Hike Discouraged — “A State Corporation Commission senior hearing examiner recommends the agency deny a proposed toll hike on the Dulles Greenway that would increase the toll to $8.10 during peak hours.” A report found that the toll road operator hadn’t proven that the proposed increases “are reasonable to the user in relation to the benefit obtained.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is working to develop a new 20-year plan for managing solid waste.
The county produces roughly 1.2 million tons of trash every year, processing about 630,000 tons as municipal solid waste (MSW). Currently, about 43.9% of waste is diverted from incineration. However, the county adopted a Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) that set a goal of 90% diversion by 2040.
Governor Vetoes Dozens of Bills — “Last week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed 48 more bills passed by the Democratic-led General Assembly, blocking legislation aimed at preserving contraception access, ending state perks for Confederate heritage groups and legalizing slot machine lookalikes known as skill games.” [Virginia Mercury]
Developer Buys McLean Hotel — “Hunter Hotel Advisors has arranged the sale of the Staybridge Suites Tysons-McLean. SAK Developers acquired the five-story property for an undisclosed price.” Hunter Hotel Advisors says the move will allow SAK to “further expand their D.C. Metro portfolio and capitalize on the unique location and dynamic demand centered around this hotel.” [Hotel Business]
Fairfax County was the only locality in the D.C. area where homelessness declined last year, decreasing by 2% from 1,310 individuals to 1,278, according to a new report.
County officials stated in the report, which was published last week by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), that the decrease is primarily due to fewer families residing in shelters and temporary housing provided by the county.
UAE Eyes Diplomatic Compound in McLean — “The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government dropped $55 million for 18 acres stretching along the Potomac River in McLean, where it plans to build a diplomatic compound, reports the Washington Business Journal (WBJ).” [Axios DC]
Two Charged in Bailey’s Crossroads Shooting — “Detectives have charged two men in connection with [Friday’s] shooting in Bailey’s Crossroads that left one man dead.” A 20-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Alder Perez Argueta from Bailey’s Crossroads, and a 25-year-old faces charges of robbery resulting in death and gang participation. [FCPD]
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has the green light to apply for a federal grant to replace dozens of buses in its Fairfax Connector fleet.
However, none of the new buses will be all-electric, despite the county’s earlier pledges to electrify its fleet of vehicles.
Man Killed in Bailey’s Crossroads Shooting — “Officers are on scene of a shooting in the 6000 blk of Argyle Dr in Bailey’s Crossroads. An adult man was taken to the hospital and pronounced deceased. Preliminary, involved parties appear to be known to each other. Detectives are on scene investigating.” [FCPD]
Congress Approves More National Airport Flights — “More long-haul flights are coming to Reagan National Airport. And people annoyed by helicopter noise will continue to have their voice heard. Those are two of the main local impacts from the FAA reauthorization bill just approved by Congress. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature.” [ARLnow]
The Fairfax County Park Authority has composed a slate of summer shows, including Grammy honorees, drive-in movies and a range of dancers.
Nearly 200 live events will take place across more than a dozen locations between June 1 and Aug. 31.
With just days to go before Fairfax County Public Schools finalizes its fiscal year 2025 budget, teachers voiced frustration this week with the news that school employees will get lower-than-expected pay raises.
As it stands, the Fairfax County School Board is on track to adopt a revised budget that includes a 3% pay increase for all school employees, down from the initially proposed 6%, starting July 1.
