While day-to-day we focus on discrete projects, at the turn of the year, we can see how all the individual pieces have come together.

Budget: The budget adopted by the Board of Supervisors last April reflected the past eight years of belt tightening and reflected the feedback from public hearings, town hall meetings, letters, emails, and phone calls from County residents. Education is our Board's priority. In keeping with that value, 52.7 percent of our General Fund went to the schools and we came very close to fully funding the School Board's request with an increase of over $66 million. Two thirds of the entire increase in General Fund revenue went to the schools. We held the line on our property tax rate and, mindful of the need to retain our triple A bond rating, we bolstered our reserves.

We are working with our colleagues in the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) to put pressure on the General Assembly to adequately fund K-12 education. The transportation bill that the General Assembly passed two years ago (after years of legislative inaction) succeeded when two things happened:  VACO got involved and mobilized pressure and support from numerous jurisdictions throughout the state and elected representatives heard constantly from their constituents about transportation needs. We are fighting to make education funding the top item on the General Assembly's collective radar screen.

  

Police and Fire Games: This summer, Fairfax County hosted the world's second largest international sporting event. I experienced some hometown pride when the Springfield Town Center agreed to be the venue for the Ultimate Firefighter Competition. This event was about more than just games as the participants and visitors were a significant economic boost to our County's bottom line.

Transportation, Transit, and Cycling: You've probably noticed the improvement in our local streets as VDOT has been repaving and filling potholes.  South Van Dorn Street, Franconia Road, all of Kingstowne Village Parkway, sections of Route One, Old Keene Mill, and Mixing Bowl exit/entrance ramps have now been completed.

 

Along with the repaving, VDOT has included bike lanes and road diets on several of our roads and these have travel flow and safety benefits for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

 

How does a road get on the VDOT repaving list? Every year, VDOT rates statewide pavement conditions and determines the best treatment to extend pavement life. Pavement condition, ride quality, and traffic volume are all taken into account.  

We've adopted the County's first Bicycle Master Plan that calls for 1,130 miles of on-and off-road bike routes across the county and encourages bicycle use for transportation. In Lee District, the plan adds more than 25 miles of bicycle lanes.

Improvements to Route One are underway and enhanced transit is progressing with the State's Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) transit alternatives study. The study recommends bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes to Prince William County in the short run and approved the long-term future extension of Metro's Yellow Line to Hybla Valley. The County has prioritized this corridor for funding.

Parks and the Environment: We've completed the Banks Park stream restoration, along with the rehabilitation of Brookfield Park, and we're replanning Mount Vernon Woods Park.

The recent restoration of Huntley Meadows Park was named the best restoration of a Virginia park by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society. The park's wetlands have now been restored to their 1980s condition and are healthier than they've been for two decades.

Turf Fields: We now have turf fields at every Lee District high school and a public use turf field at Loisdale Park. A substantial part of the funding for these fields came from proffer money that I procured.

Revitalization: Car title companies and payday lenders were moving into our revitalization areas. In November, my Board colleagues and I unanimously approved new zoning regulations to regulate where such alternative financial institution can be located. One of the most important regulations is that they may not locate in revitalization districts.

Economic Development: The Springfield Town Center continues to thrive and the County's Department of Tax Administration is seeing a significant increase in real estate taxes from the property-a real boost to our bottom line. Wegmans opened in June and several other projects are well underway.