taxes | FFXnow

Fairfax City seeks voter referendum on sales tax to fund school improvements

Published July 20, 2026 at 10:00AM

Fairfax City Hall (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax City voters will decide in November whether to approve a general retail sales tax increase of up to 1% that could generate up to $13.5 million to fund construction projects and long-term maintenance of the city’s schools.

The Fairfax City Council voted unanimously last Tuesday (July 14) to request that the Fairfax Circuit Court order a special election on Nov. 3 asking voters whether the city should levy the tax. Long sought by the city, the ability to implement the sales tax was authorized by the General Assembly’s new state budget late last month.

Countywide

Fairfax County school board voices support for sales tax referendum to fund construction projects

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 16, 2026 at 11:45AM

An electronic voting ballot marking device for people with disabilities (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County School Board recently passed a resolution affirming its support for a possible 1% sales tax to fund its $400 million backlog of maintenance and capital improvement projects.

In light of the new state budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly late last month allowing local jurisdictions to increase their sales tax rate up to 1% to support education and transportation, the school board voted unanimously on July 9 to ask the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to place the issue before voters as a referendum during a general election.

Countywide

Taxes, paid leave program on minds of N. Va. business leaders after General Assembly session

By Emily Leayman

Published July 15, 2026 at 8:30AM

Capital One Center in Tysons on a misty morning (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Optimism among Northern Virginia business leaders is improving, although some expressed worries about taxes and the state’s approval of a paid family and medical leave program.

That’s according to the second-quarter 2026 Business Leader Survey released last week by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and public relations firm Pinkston, revealing the sentiments of the region’s CEOs, senior executives and business owners.

News

With pool on pause, Vienna leaders debate whether to consider reducing meals tax rate

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 10, 2026 at 10:00AM

Vienna's vacant Annex property on Center Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna leaders are taking a breather, both on plans to build an aquatics and fitness center on the currently vacant Annex property and on the possibility of reversing a meals tax increase primarily intended to fund that facility.

After about 40 minutes of debate, the Vienna Town Council voted 5-2 on Monday (July 6) to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 22, 2027 on whether the town should reduce its meals tax rate from 4% to 3%.

Countywide

Rising trash disposal costs might leave Fairfax property owners, officials holding their noses

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 8, 2026 at 1:45PM

A Fairfax County solid waste management truck at the I-66 Transfer Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax officials acknowledge they have no easy solutions to offset rising costs of operating the local government’s trash collection facilities.

Fairfax property owners might need to pay for future funding shortfalls — a possibility that may be equally unwelcome to county supervisors as they prepare for an election year in 2027.

Countywide

N. Va. gains authority to increase sales tax, but leaders wary of pursuing referendums

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 6, 2026 at 11:45AM

Shoppers walking through Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Northern Virginia leaders are treading cautiously with newly granted power to increase the sales tax in local jurisdictions.

Under the biennial state budget adopted in Richmond late last month, Northern Virginia localities now have the power to hold voter referendums to increase sales taxes by up to 1%, with the extra funding going to transportation, education or a combination.

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

Staff proposal for new ‘trash tax’ wins few backers among Fairfax County supervisors

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 15, 2026 at 10:00AM

Trash collection bin outside a townhouse in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors have reacted tepidly to a staff proposal for imposing what might be termed a “trash tax” on Fairfax’s property owners to support solid waste disposal.

“I don’t think we’re ready. It’s kind of a hard sell,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in response to the proposal, floated at the May 12 meeting of the board’s Environment Committee.

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.