budget | FFXnow

Spanberger agrees to marijuana retail market after vetoing Fairfax County lawmaker’s bill

Published June 16, 2026 at 1:45PM

Cannabis plant (via Rick Proctor/Unsplash)

After vetoing legislation last month that would’ve established a retail market for cannabis, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has agreed to establish a market through an addition to the state budget.

The compromise between Spanberger, Fairfax County Del. Paul Krizek (D-16) and state Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D-13) would allow recreational marijuana sales to begin on July 1, 2027. The governor’s office says this allows time for the Cannabis Control Authority to develop regulations, testing and safety standards and oversight framework.

Countywide

Lack of agreement on state budget puts Fairfax County leaders on edge

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Fairfax legislators listen to public testimony in advance of the 2026 General Assembly session (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County leaders are reacting with a mix of anxiety and irritation to the continued lack of a state government budget.

“This is not a trivial issue — it’s not the way a state like Virginia should be acting,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting today (Tuesday).

Countywide

NOVA Parks boosts funding for staff, W&OD Trail plantings

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 27, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated May 27, 2026 at 4:18PM

NOVA Parks and Dominion Energy have been replanting cleared areas along the W&OD Trail with native trees and shrubs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Over the next year, visitors can expect to see fewer invasive plant species and more native plantings along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and other regional parks.

The NOVA Parks Board of Directors adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget at its meeting last Thursday (May 21) that includes increased funding for invasive species management throughout the system, and for tree and shrubbery plantings along the 45-mile W&OD Trail, among other priorities.

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors to consider property tax rebates for years county is flush with cash

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 20, 2026 at 1:45PM

Tax office in the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (May 19) took the first step toward considering giving property owners tax rebates in years when the local government shows a significant budget surplus.

In a unanimous vote, supervisors agreed to a request by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, directing staff to begin looking at the technical and cost implications of such a proposal.

News

Vienna Town Council approves new budget with ‘modest’ property tax rate cut

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 19, 2026 at 3:00PM

The Vienna Town Council adopts a fiscal year 2027 budget presented by finance director Steven Barlow (courtesy Town of Vienna)

Vienna residents can expect to pay more in property taxes and water and sewer fees in the upcoming fiscal year, but their bills won’t be quite as high as they would’ve been under the town’s initially proposed budget.

The Vienna Town Council adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget yesterday that reduces the local real estate tax rate by a half-cent, from 19.5 cents to 19 cents per $100 of assessed value, while maintaining existing service and staffing levels, according to Director of Finance Steven Barlow.

Countywide

Goal of 10K affordable units in reach, but success not guaranteed, Fairfax housing chief says

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 18, 2026 at 9:15AM

Fairfax County officials in 2025 broke ground on an affordable housing project at 2990 Telestar Court in Merrifield (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Will the Fairfax County government be able to meet its goal of 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034? The county’s top housing official is optimistic but hedging his bets.

“We do feel like we’re very much headed in the right direction,” said Thomas Fleetwood, director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

Countywide

Chairman McKay lashes out at school board member over budget criticism

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2026 at 12:45PM | Updated May 14, 2026 at 6:48PM

Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (staff photos by Jared Serre)

The growing tension between Fairfax County’s government and schools leaders over funding spilled into public view yesterday (Wednesday) when Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren shared a hostile text exchange with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

In response to a May 7 newsletter where Meren criticized the Board of Supervisors for eliminating high school crossing guards in the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget, adopted on May 5, McKay texted that she “should apologize” for the “crazy words you have put out,” according to screenshots that Meren posted on Facebook and provided directly to FFXnow.

Countywide

FCPS proposes budget cuts to cover $28 million funding gap

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 13, 2026 at 9:15AM

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid presents her proposed reductions in the fiscal year 2027 budget to the school board on May 7, 2026 (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid has proposed trimming a number of items from the school system’s fiscal year 2027 budget to address a $28.9 million shortfall.

“At this time,” Reid wrote in a May 8 letter to FCPS families, “I am proposing to make up the difference by reducing the staffing reserve, leveraging alternative major maintenance funding, extending the time to refresh FCPSOn technology devices, deferring microcredentialing, reducing math adoption curriculum materials, and reducing the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve.”

Countywide

Fairfax County adopts new budget, seeks ability to lower some speed limits

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 5, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 10:24AM

A 25 mph speed limit sign in a residential neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors formally adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget this morning (Tuesday), while also setting a future public hearing on local control of speed limits in some areas.

The board set a June 9 public hearing on a proposed ordinance that, if enacted, would give the county more autonomy to reduce speed limits in residential and business districts.

Countywide

Fairfax County board agrees to reduce tax rate, restore some proposed cuts in budget

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors informally adopted a $5.9 billion fiscal year 2027 budget this morning (Tuesday) that includes a small reduction in the real estate tax rate, more reserve funding and changes to proposed cuts.

The 8-2 vote during the “markup” session is a precursor to the board’s final adoption of a new budget next Tuesday, May 5, that will take effect on July 1.