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Hello!
Budget season has just begun in Fairfax County. The County Executive recently presented his Proposed FY2019 Budget to the Board of Supervisors. I have included more information below about the proposed budget, how the process works, and how residents can get involved. I have also included information on what I'm working on in Lee District and across the County, including updates from agencies and information about local events.
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The FY2019 Budget Proposal Presentation
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County Executive Bryan Hill on Tuesday presented his proposed FY2019 budget to the Board of Supervisors. This was the first time the Board had seen Mr. Hill's recommendations.
In the County Executive's proposal, which includes a 2.5 cent real estate tax rate increase, Fairfax County Public Schools are fully funded. The proposed $2.26 billion transfer includes an increase of $95.1 million from last year's budget. As proposed, this is the eighth consecutive year that has seen a budgeted increase in the transfer to the FCPS Operating Fund, highlighting again that FCPS is a top priority for the Board of Supervisors.
In addition to schools, the County Executive's budget clearly sends a message that FY19 is a year to invest in our workforce. It includes a 2.25% MRA increase, as well as performance, merit and longevity raises for County employees. Required benefit adjustments are also funded.
Also included in the County Executive's proposal is funding for the third year of Diversion First, a collaborative effort which diverts low risk offenders experiencing a mental health crisis to treatment rather than sending them to jail. The budget proposal also includes funds to provide staffing for the South County Police Station, another major commitment to the future station.
However, we cannot rely on real estate tax increases to balance the budget. I agree with the County Executive that we need to immediately start our focus on FY20 and the need to make structural changes. We must also be conscious of our residents' ability to pay for services during tough economic times, and recognize that the County cannot continue to fulfill state and federal responsibilities.
Looking ahead, the Board will advertise a Tax Rate on March 6, host three days of public hearings on April 10-12, and ultimately adopt the budget on May 1. More information is available here.
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Budget Town Hall on March 21
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I will be hosting a Budget Town Hall with our School Board representative, Tamara Derenak-Kaufax at the Franconia Governmental Center on March 21 at 7 p.m. and look forward to seeing our community there. Any who are unable to come can visit here for more information about the proposed budget and what it means for residents.
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Senior Safety Summit on March 14
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I will be hosting a Senior Safety Summit at my office from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 14 alongside representatives from our Police Department, Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue Department, Department of Cable and Consumer Affairs, and other agencies. All senior residents are invited to attend, and can read the flyer attached here for more information.
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Revitalization Update: Original Mount Vernon HS
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In a major step forward in transforming the
Original Mount Vernon High School
(OMVHS) campus, Fairfax County approved an agreement to create a master redevelopment plan for the site. On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Board of Supervisors approved the agreement with Alexander Company and Elm Street Development to do the work.
Under the contract, Alexander and Elm Street will work with county staff and the Lee and Mount Vernon communities to create a master plan to redevelop the approximately 42-acre historic 1939 school campus and park site. I look forward to working with Alexander and Elm Street, as well as the community, to jointly plan for the future of Original Mount Vernon High School. There is no doubt in my mind that a revitalized OMVHS will benefit all of the Route One Corridor and continue our positive momentum
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Legislative Update:
Fairfax County Delegation Reception
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I recently met with our state leadership at the Annual Fairfax County Delegation Reception in Richmond. We are very luck to have so many friends and allies in Richmond, especially as we work together on improving our infrastructure and funding our most important programs.
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Lee District Spotlight:
Marlene Miller and Steve Hunt
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Marlene Miller and Steve Hunt, better known as the publishers and main contributors for the Mount Vernon Voice announced earlier in February that they would be ending publication. Their work has made an indelible impact on the neighborhoods in Lee, bringing voices to our neighborhoods and telling stories that are unique to the southeastern region of Fairfax. If anything of note happened in our community, you could be sure that there would be a story about it in the next issue of the Mount Vernon Voice.
Marlene and Steve put over a decade of work into running a small but well-heard newspaper, and took immense pride in making sure their work was of the highest quality. The Voice was always authentic and rang true, keeping its finger on the district's pulse. We are fortunate to have such dedicated journalists, and our community is grateful for their years of service.
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Did You Know: New Demographic Info Released
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Annual Demographic Report Published
If you're in a trivia league and someone asks, "How many people live in Fairfax County?," you can answer with confidence: 1,142,888 people. This number is now available as part of our annual demographics report, which also features population estimates and forecasts; housing units and their characteristics; residential development activity; and commercial and industrial gross floor area. This report also unlocks the baseline data points as to who we are as a county and community - which then fuels other decisions such as the budget for the next fiscal year and beyond. There are hundreds of stats to examine in the report; NewsCenter highlights a few of the noteworthy numbers.
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Did You Know?
In 2017, the Department of Code Compliance received 9,026 complaints, opened 6,149 cases and completed 15,983 inspections.
Source: Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance
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6121 Franconia Road
Alexandria, Virginia
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