Lee District Monthly Newsletter                         October 2016
The McKay Messenger
Fairfax County
 Boa rd of Supervisors
Jeffrey C. McKay     
 

As always, there's a lot going on this month. Elections are coming up and there's a lot to decide. Below is some information on a few things you'll be asked to vote on, Board updates, upcoming projects going on in our area, and lots of good community involvement and progress happening in Lee District. 
Referendums on the Ballot 

This November's election is about more than just deciding our next president. Four local initiatives are on the ballot in Fairfax County, each of which could impact Lee District residents and facilities.

The first you've no doubt heard about by now: the meals tax referendum. Should it pass, the Board of Supervisors will have the authority to implement a 4-percent tax on prepared foods to generate money for our school system, capital improvements, and to help with real estate tax relief. Should it fail, the County will continue to rely predominantly on property taxes to generate revenue.

As the chairman of our Board's Budget and Legislative Committees, I'm constantly looking for ways to fully fund our world-class school system and great County services while also ensuring we're not taxing our most vulnerable and aging residents out of Fairfax County.

Virginia law severely limits the ways the Board of Supervisors can raise revenues. In fact, real estate and personal property taxes accounted for approximately 79.7 percent of General Fund revenues in our recently-adopted Fiscal Year 2017 budget. The state does give the Board the authority to place a meals tax referendum on the ballot, however.

Next, voters will decide on a series of bonds to fund improvements described in each question.

The first you will be asked about is our great parks system. The Parks are requesting $107 million in bonds to go towards renovations, upgrades, land acquisition, and a new athletic turf field right here in Lee District.

Second is for a Transportation Bond which would allot $120 to finance the County's share of Metro's six-year Capital Improvement Program with an ultimate goal of providing safe and reliable public transit for all. Approval of this bond would also free up other County funds for road improvements.

Finally, you will be asked if $85 million can be used for Human Services and Community to renovate, expand or replace four of the County's shelters which no longer meet crisis/emergency needs of our homeless.

There's much more information available on the referendums that you will see in November. For more detail and information click here.

In-Person Absentee Voting 

The Fairfax County Office of Elections is offering in-person   absentee  voting now until November 5. The Community Room of the Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road) is  a satellite location on Saturdays from 9 am - 5 pm and weekdays from 2 - 8 pm. For more information, call the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 or visit their website .  
Metro Update

As you well know, Metro has been going through some changes as well as massive updates and repairs. In response to federal directives and to more efficiently maintain the transit system, Metro is asking you for your input on four proposed changes to Metro's hours of operations. Each proposal aims to provide an additional 8 hours of maintenance time. To take the survey or leave your feedback, click here.


Senior Scam Alert

Recently, there has been a slight uptick in reports that seniors are victims of scams. Contractors offering to reseal driveways for a much lower price, requesting the money in cash, and then never returning to do the work is a recurring scam. Another common scam is tree removal using the same idea of asking for cash up front and never returning. 

These scams are just a few of the many. It's important to be diligent in deciding who you hire and make sure you have a contract and never pay the whole amount of money up front. Never wire or send money to someone claiming that you've won a prize

In an effort to help educate seniors, their children, and the community at large, detectives from the FCPD Financial Crimes Unit are available for group presentations. As the scams change from year to year, police are aware of particular details and want to help raise public awareness as well.

To learn more about financial crimes and scams or to report a crime, visit the Financial Crime Online Reporting site of the FCPD website here. 
Franconia History Day 

Join the Washington Nationals Racing Presidents on Sunday, November 13 at the The Franconia Museum's  15th Annual Franconia History Day
from Noon to 4 p.m.  at the  Franconia Volunteer Fire Department  (6300 Beulah Street). More information is available here. 

I have been very honored to speak at previous history days and am always glad that the Franconia Museum is located in the Franconia Governmental Center next to my office. In such a rapidly changing and developing County it's important to remember and value our history and heritage. Visit the Franconia Museum's website here. 
The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting another community workshop to discuss the future of Lake Accotink Park.  They're moving along on the master plan and need your input on what you'd like to see most at Lake  Accotink. 

Be a part of the process at Kings Park Elementary (5400 Harrow Way) on Thursday, October 27 at 7 pm. For more information check out the project page here . 
I-395 Express Lanes Expansion 

VDOT will be holding one more public meeting held on the expansion of the 395 Express Lanes on November 30 at Bren Mar Park Elementary School (6344 Beryl Road) from 6:30-8:30 pm to discuss the plans to extend the I-395 Northern Express Lanes from Turkeycock Run near Edsall Road to Eads Street near the Pentagon. 

This Thursday, October 27 there will be a public hearing on the southbound expansion of I-395 from Duke Street to Edsall Road from 6:30-8:30 pm at Francis C. Hammon Middle School (4646 Seminary Road).

For more information on the projects and details on the public hearings, click here . 

Board Meeting Updates
At this month's Board Meeting we had the opportunity to honor two great men for their service to Lee District and Fairfax County. David West has been a member of the Fairfax County Health Care Advisory Board for 41 years. He was a strong advocate to ensure that Fairfax's ambulatory system became the world-renowned organization that it is today and to promote the availability and accessibility of quality cost-efficient health care to all. Ed Batten's dedication and hard work extends from the Park Authority Board, to Land Use, to Transportation, and beyond. The Lee District Family Recreation area, the Our Special Harbor Spraypark, and the Leon Plenty Amphitheater were all made possible with Ed as a part of them. A sincere thank you to both of these tremendous men and their many years of service to Fairfax County. 
At the October 18 meeting, the Board also presented numerous well deserved awards including:

 * Exceptional Design Awards, that acknowledge the superior design of a building and building site.
 
* Environmental Excellence Awards that honor county residents, businesses, groups, etc. for their commitment to the environment and support of county environmental initiatives 

* The Barbara Varon Award that is annually given to a Fairfax County resident that has been a key volunteer in improving our communities. 

Action Items Approved by the Board:

* Authorized public hearings to be held in regards to the zoning restrictions placed on the construction or expansion of wineries, breweries, or distilleries in Fairfax County. Read more about what that means here. 

To watch the Board Meeting and to get more information about what was discussed and voted on, click here. 


Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I hope these updates will keep you in the loop with some of the major events in our District.

If you'd like to learn more about something in the newsletter or have an idea for a future edition, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff.
  
Sincerely,
Jeffrey C. McKay
Lee District Supervisor
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
703-971-6262