budget | FFXnow

Vienna proposes flat property tax rate, sets aside funds for aquatics facility in budget

Published March 17, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated March 17, 2025 at 10:11AM

Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna plans to stick with its current real estate tax rate, breaking from the hikes floated by many of its neighbors in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon and Fairfax City.

However, rising property values will still result in higher bills for most residents, while enabling the town to fund employee pay raises, an initial allocation toward a potential swimming pool and fitness center, and other priorities, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released on March 5 by Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton.

Countywide

Fairfax County meals tax would require new staff, funding to administer

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 12, 2025 at 8:15AM

A meal at Silver Diner in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County will need to hire more than 20 new staff and spend about $2.8 million a year to administer a countywide meals tax, if one is authorized in the coming months.

Even with the additional expenses, overall revenue would far exceed the costs of administering the program, which would tax food and drinks served by restaurants and other food service establishments, staff told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a budget policy committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

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Proposed Fairfax County budget threatens middle school summer and after-school programs

By James Jarvis

Published March 11, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 3:58PM

Glasgow Middle School students learn cooking skills in an after-school program (via FCPS/YouTube)

After-school and summer programs that serve thousands of middle school students are at risk of ending under Fairfax County’s proposed budget.

To close a projected $292.7 million funding gap, County Executive Bryan Hill pitched a fiscal year 2026 budget last month that cuts nearly $60 million in spending and 208 staff positions across multiple agencies, affecting everything from public safety to housing assistance programs and park maintenance.

News

Town of Herndon considers first real estate tax hike in over a decade

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 4:11PM

Lawn behind Herndon Municipal Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Town of Herndon is joining Fairfax County, Fairfax City and other Northern Virginia localities in contemplating real estate and meals tax rate increases to address growing expenses and prepare for potentially tough economic times ahead.

The proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released yesterday (Monday) by interim town manager Christopher Martino bumps up the property tax rate by 1 cent — from 26 cents to 27 cents per $100 of assessed value — and the tax rate on prepared food and beverages from 3.75% to 4%.

News

Fairfax City proposes real estate and meals tax increases to balance budget

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 5, 2025 at 11:15AM

Fairfax City Hall with construction (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Homeowners in Fairfax City could face an average 16.9% increase in real estate taxes under the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released Feb. 25 by City Manager Bryan Foster.

In order to meet increasing costs — especially for schools — Foster proposes increasing the city’s real-estate tax rate from $1.03 per $100 of assessed value to $1.125.

Countywide

Metro revises passenger, revenue projections upward for next budget

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 4, 2025 at 11:45AM

Electronic display shows a system map at the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A ridership revival has led to a $20 million increase in projected revenue from Metro passengers in the coming fiscal year.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) released new budget forecasts last week that now anticipate $464 million in passenger revenue for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1.

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders see no easy solution for school funding needs

By James Jarvis

Published February 26, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Fairfax County School Board and Board of Supervisors convene for a joint budget work session on Feb. 15, 2025 (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County leaders met on Tuesday (Feb. 25) to address a growing school budget crisis, but after hours of debate, they left without a clear path forward.

Faced with rising costs and economic uncertainty heightened by threats of curtailed federal funding, officials agreed on support for Fairfax County Public Schools as a budget priority but remained divided on how to pay for it.

Countywide

Public safety agencies face significant cuts in proposed Fairfax County budget

By Jared Serre

Published February 25, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated April 8, 2025 at 8:29PM

Fairfax County and Arlington fire department vehicles on the scene of a two-alarm house fire on Ridgeview Circle (staff photo)

As Fairfax County officials work to fill an estimated $292.7 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year, public safety services will bear a substantial brunt of potential cuts.

Of the $59.8 million in reductions proposed in the advertised budget, which was unveiled by County Executive Bryan Hill earlier this month, approximately $26.2 million will come from the police department, fire and rescue department, and sheriff’s office.

Countywide

FCPS ‘planning for the worst’ with federal aid at risk and county funds limited, budget chair says

By James Jarvis

Published February 20, 2025 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Public Schools school bus (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) could face a significant funding gap as county leaders weigh a budget proposal that falls short of what the school system requested, while looming federal policy changes threaten to cut millions in aid.

On Tuesday (Feb. 18), County Executive Brian Hill unveiled a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that includes $125.3 million in additional funding for schools, with $118.6 million going directly to FCPS’ operating budget.

Countywide

‘Community safety officers’ may help fill gaps in Fairfax County’s police staffing

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 20, 2025 at 9:45AM

A Fairfax County police officer at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County will look at creating a corps of “community safety officers,” who would have fewer powers than sworn law-enforcement personnel but could support the police department’s mission in an era of recruiting challenges.

“Based on experiences in other jurisdictions around the country and in our region, it could have some merit,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said when proposing on Tuesday (Feb. 18) that staff study the issue.