taxes | FFXnow

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

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

Proposed Fairfax County budget mixes higher taxes, largest program cuts since 2010

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 18, 2025 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Additional taxes, including the possibility of a meals tax, program and staff cuts and less-than-requested funding for the school system are all incorporated in the Fairfax County government’s draft $5.7 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposed by County Executive Bryan Hill.

“I don’t think anybody is happy with this budget, but this is where we are,” Hill said when delivering his proposal to the Board of Supervisors this morning (Tuesday). “We have been working diligently to figure out how to make this mildly palatable, to find the right balance.”

Countywide

School funding showdown looms as legislature sends sales tax bill to Youngkin again

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published February 14, 2025 at 3:00PM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces Alarm.com expansion in Tysons in February 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

For the fourth consecutive year, Virginia lawmakers have sent the governor a bill allowing all localities to impose a 1% sales tax for school construction. Now, all eyes are on Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has vetoed similar measures before.

Youngkin, who has historically opposed these tax proposals, will once again review the legislation. After the last session, he blocked the measure, citing the state’s existing efforts to fund school construction and concerns over its impact on taxpayers.

News

Herndon, Vienna, Clifton would benefit from revisions to plastic bag tax law

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 11, 2025 at 2:30PM

A plastic grocery bag (via Christopher Vega on Unsplash)

Its future remains uncertain, but legislation in Richmond could bring the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton more money to spend on environmental and social-service initiatives.

A bill patroned by Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) would allow Virginia towns to get a portion of the plastic bag tax revenue collected by their surrounding county. After passing the House of Delegates on a 52-45 vote on Jan. 23, the measure advanced from a Senate Committee on Local Government on a party-line tally of 8-7 on Monday (Feb. 10).

News

Vote on meals tax increase to fund Vienna aquatics facility deferred

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2025 at 9:00AM

The vacant Vienna Annex site in fall 2024 (photo by Amy Woolsey)

When Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton shares his proposed new budget in early March, it won’t include any meals tax increase.

The Vienna Town Council agreed on Monday (Jan. 27) to defer voting on a proposal to temporarily raise the tax on meals sold at restaurants from 3% to 4% in order to fund an aquatics and fitness center at the Annex, a 3-acre site at 301 Center Street South that was previously occupied by the Faith Baptist Church.

Countywide

Fairfax County tax reduces plastic bag circulation, raises $6 million

By James Jarvis

Published December 16, 2024 at 2:30PM

A plastic grocery bag (via Christopher Vega on Unsplash)

Fairfax County’s plastic bag tax has pulled in more than $6 million in revenue and taken an estimated 3 million plastic bags out of circulation nearly two years after it was enacted, county officials say.

“There are 3 million fewer plastic bags in circulation in Fairfax County since the bag tax was enacted, which 100% shows the intention is working,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during an environmental committee meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 10).

News

Tysons makes more tax revenue for Fairfax County than it receives, study finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 13, 2024 at 9:00AM

The Tysons East skyline viewed from the Tysons Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons is an overall financial boon for Fairfax County, generating more tax revenue than it takes, a recent analysis commissioned by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) found.

Presented on Nov. 21 as part of the TCA’s first Tysons Quarterly Market Report, the net fiscal impact analysis conducted by the consulting firm HR&A Advisors suggests that Tysons is generally living up to its reputation as the county’s “economic engine.”

Countywide

Fairfax County meals tax still on menu for consideration in upcoming budget

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 11, 2024 at 3:45PM

People eating meals at a restaurant (via Dan Gold/Unsplash)

Decision day is drawing closer, but Fairfax County leaders aren’t yet committing one way or another on whether to implement a meals tax as part of their upcoming budget deliberations.

Even if one is imposed, it won’t be the cure-all to the county government’s funding challenges, with a $292.7 million gap between anticipated revenues and expenses that must be filled in the coming year, one top official says.

Countywide

Regional taxes, longer I-66 toll hours on table for dedicated N. Va. transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 9, 2024 at 3:45PM

A train arrives at the Tysons Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fifteen options are now on the table, as regional and state leaders mull ways to establish dedicated funding for Northern Virginia transit operations.

A full range of funding options for Metro and other public transportation systems was presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on Thursday (Dec. 5), including new taxes and fees.