General Assembly | FFXnow

Published October 18, 2024 at 8:15AM

Trees line Colvin Run Road in Great Falls (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

While the environment is generally a priority for Fairfax County, issues related to trees and invasive plants appear likely to take a backseat to other concerns when local elected officials lobby their state counterparts in the General Assembly next year.

At its legislative committee meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 15), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reviewed a number of proposals for promoting tree conservation and addressing invasive species from the Fairfax County Tree Commission and Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC).

Countywide

Fairfax leaders to push state for more education, public safety funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 17, 2024 at 11:15AM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

As the 2025 General Assembly session approaches, Fairfax County leaders are hoping for the best while bracing for the worst when it comes to unfunded mandates and associated costs handed down from Richmond.

“We can’t continue to sustain all these state operations that are dropped in our lap,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a meeting of the board’s legislative committee on Tuesday (Oct. 15).

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors press Gov. Youngkin for additional state funding for key public services

By James Jarvis

Published September 26, 2024 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County leaders want Gov. Glenn Youngkin to boost state funding for critical services, such as schools, transportation and health care.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 on Tuesday (Sept. 24) to send a letter to Youngkin arguing that chronic underfunding by the state has forced localities like Fairfax County to lean heavily on local tax revenue to maintain “core services” like public education, public safety and transportation infrastructure, straining local budgets and taxpayers.

Countywide

Fairfax County considers new tax options to ease burden on property owners

By James Jarvis

Published September 19, 2024 at 11:15AM

Sign points to the Department of Tax Administration in the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County County Board of Supervisors is exploring its taxing options, including possible taxes on meals and event admissions, in the hopes of reducing its reliance on property taxes.

Supervisors discussed new revenue diversification proposals at Tuesday’s (Sept. 17) budget policy committee meeting after calling on County Executive Bryan Hill to identify ways to ease the tax burden on homeowners and fill reported shortfalls in state funding for public schools.

News

Fairfax County School Board jumps regulatory hurdles to OK solar panels for nine schools

By James Jarvis

Published July 17, 2024 at 10:30AM | Updated July 18, 2024 at 9:56AM

A solar panel demonstration project outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In a bid to cut energy costs by tens of thousands of dollars, the Fairfax County School Board finalized a deal with a local solar developer last month to outfit nine elementary schools across the county with 250-kilowatt (kW) solar panels.

The solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) comes years after the school board approved a series of much larger solar projects that were halted after Dominion Energy introduced new interconnection rules that substantially increased project costs, rendering the projects economically unfeasible.

Countywide

Are Virginia toll roads costly and confusing? A state study shows many drivers think so.

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published June 25, 2024 at 11:45AM

A sign displays the toll for taking the I-66 West Express Lanes from Oakton to Route 50 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Researchers found that some complex toll roads in Northern Virginia are “less understandable” for people who drive high occupancy vehicles and that inconsistent toll signage in Virginia may also cause driver confusion. The findings come after a months-long study into easing vehicle traffic congestion, specifically on popular Interstates 81 and 95, and possible ways to stop rising toll costs.

Cost concerns

Countywide

Meals tax back on the menu as Fairfax County seeks new revenue options

By James Jarvis

Published May 22, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated July 31, 2024 at 10:39AM

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 23. 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

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.

Countywide

Virginia child care rating system aims to improve kids’ school readiness

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published May 14, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated May 14, 2024 at 4:49PM

Bethbap kids cars toys road carpet (via Bethlehem Baptist Church/Unsplash)

Virginia has implemented new guidelines to establish a unified rating and improvement system to assess the commonwealth’s publicly funded early childhood care providers.

Approximately 75% of child care programs that received public funding previously did not participate in the state’s voluntary quality measures, according to Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, who co-patroned 2020 legislation that led to all publicly funded providers being required to participate.

Countywide

FCPS superintendent scales back planned staff pay raises due to revenue shortfall

By James Jarvis

Published May 14, 2024 at 9:30AM

FCPS Central Office in Falls Church (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Facing lower-than-expected revenue from the county and state, Fairfax County Public Schools is considering a proposal to reduce staff pay raises.

Under Superintendent Michelle Reid’s new proposal, presented at last week’s school board meeting, all school employees would receive a 3% pay increase instead of the initially planned 6%, which would’ve made starting teacher salaries in Fairfax County the highest among surrounding jurisdictions.

Countywide

Fairfax County senators react to governor’s veto of minimum wage bump

By Daniel Egitto

Published April 5, 2024 at 11:45AM

VA Governor Glenn Youngkin delivers remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for the I-495 Express lanes extension in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A bill to raise Virginia’s minimum wage got the ax in Richmond despite the support of three Fairfax County state senators.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed legislation on March 28 that would’ve increased the minimum wage from $12 to $15 an hour by 2026. Sens. Jennifer Boysko, Saddam Salim and Adam Ebbin, who all represent parts of Fairfax County, were among several Democrats to sponsor the bill.