Arriving at a budget this year was particularly difficult because of numerous cuts and efficiencies implemented in previous budgets, following the Great Recession.  Because of increased enrollment and other factors, the Fairfax County Public Schools asked for an increase in the transfer amount from the County of $98 million (5.7%). We also needed to address compensation increases for County employees who have taken on increased responsibility with only minimal salary increases over the last several years.  As always, we needed to provide for those most in need and fund our libraries and parks.  In addition, any budget must maintain the County's financial soundness and ability to respond to future unknown challenges.

Significant increases in residential property assessments while commercial property assessments were flat presented another challenge.

The Board conducted an extensive review of the County Executive's proposed budget plan. In Dranesville, I held three public meetings to hear residents' concerns, in addition to the three nights of County-wide public hearings held before the Board of Supervisors. I also gave careful consideration to the reports of the Dranesville Citizen Budget Task Force, which I convene annually to assist me in evaluating and providing detailed input on the County and School budgets. In addition, I heard from the McLean and Great Falls Citizens Associations and many Dranesville residents with their thoughts on budget priorities.

My Alternative Budget Proposal

On April 18, the Board's Budget Committee met to mark up the County Executive's Advertised Budget.  At that meeting, in an effort to provide more money for Schools and employee compensation while avoiding a tax rate increase, I presented a proposal with three recommendations:

• Increase the amount of the school transfer to 3.5%
• Increase employee compensation from 1.29% to 2.29%
• Hold the tax rate at $1.085 per $100 property value

In order to accomplish this, I proposed a number of cuts in the budget and use of a portion of reserves the Board had previously funded.

While there was some support for my approach, it was not a majority of the Board. However, the Board did decide to increase compensation for County Employees to 2.29%.

Approved FY 2015 Budget

The Board of Supervisors approved the FY 2015 Budget on April 29 with the following major provisions:

• The Real Estate Tax was increased $.005 from $1.085, to $1.090 per $100 of assessed value.
• Fairfax County Public Schools received a transfer for operations in the amount of $1.77 billion (an increase of $51.5 million, 3% higher than FY 2014). In addition, $177.14 million is transferred to School Debt Service. The total County transfer to support School Operating and Debt Service is $1.95 billion or 52.4% of total County Disbursements. While a 3% increase in the FY 2015 transfer amount does not fully meet the School Board's request, when combined with the approximate $30 million in additional funding anticipated from the State, the remaining gap is much more manageable.
• General Fund Disbursements, including Schools, will be $3.72 billion, an increase of $17.4 million or 0.47% over the FY 2014 Revised Budget Plan and an increase of $130 million or 3.62% over the FY 2014 Adopted Budget Plan.
• The Personal Property Tax rate remains unchanged at $4.57 per $100 of assessed value for most classes of personal property.
• The Stormwater fee increased from $0.02 to $0.0225 per $100 of assessed value.
• County employees will receive a salary increase of 2.29%. Eligible public safety employees will receive a 1.29% COLA and a step increase on their anniversary date, beginning July 1.
• Additional cuts to expenses were made in the amount of $16.5 million.

Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions with me during this process. This is how we ensure that the County budget reflects our community's priorities.

• Additional two feet of shoulder on each side
• Aesthetic treatments on railings and abutments
• Stream restoration to stabilize Rocky Run and guide the creek through the restored opening
• Overhead and underground utility coordination

• All travelers will need an E-ZPass to access the 95 Express Lanes.  Learn more about where to obtain a pass by calling 1-877-762-7824.
• To travel toll-free, all travelers will need three or more people in the vehicle and an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV mode.
• The 95 Express Lanes will end north of Edsall Road on I-395. Standard HOV rules will apply on the I-395 HOV lanes.

Aging in Place:  Modifying Your Home

to Fit Your Changing Life Style

Dranesville "Aging in Community" Update

  

"Aging in Community" is a national movement whereby communities are exploring ways for seniors to stay in their own homes, or "age in community" and more fully enjoy their senior years. Supervisor Foust and his staff continue to work with community groups in Great Falls, Herndon and McLean to explore concepts and ideas to better understand and meet the needs of seniors as they facilitate "aging in community". Here is an update on the ongoing Aging in Community efforts in Dranesville:

Great Falls

  

The Great Falls Senior Center without Walls (GFSC) and its Board of Directors were created to enrich the lives of the Great Falls community's mature adults with stimulating programs and social networking opportunities. The group is comprised of 193 members.  For more information about GFSC or planned events, please contact Polly Fitzgerald by email at pollyfitz1@verizon.net or call 703-759-4345.

  

Herndon

  

The Herndon Village Network (HVN) committee meets each month to discuss Herndon's aging in place program.  HVN is made up of volunteers with support from the County to help support Herndon's residents, aged 55 and over. The group is currently working on transportation issues. For more information about the Herndon Village Network, please email HerndonVillageNetworkInfo@gmail.com.

 

McLean

 

The McLean Community: A Village for All Ages (MCVA) held an AARP Workshop, "Aging in Place: Modifying Your Home to Fit your Changing Life Style", at the McLean Community Center on  May 19. The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants who were instructed on ways to make their homes

livable and a place to age in place, by incorporating universal design concepts.

 

The McLean Senior Source (MSS) has been busy providing McLean seniors with phone referrals to County and non-County resources on a wide range of issues, including such topics as daily living assistance and transportation options. To reach MSS, call 703-300-1751 or visit the McLean Community Center lobby (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean) Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

The McLean Village Exchange (MVE) meets approximately every three months. 

MVE is comprised of representatives from service-oriented McLean organizations and constituent groups, and will recommend solutions and new programs that respond to needs identified by the McLean Senior Source users and other community members. Courtney Nuzzo, Administrator of Lewinsville Retirement Residences, is coordinating the effort for the MVE.

Supervisor Foust addresses "Aging in Place: Modifying You Home to Fit Your Changing Life Style" workshop participants

 

The Independent Living Project

Helping older people live independently in their homes

A partnership of County agencies and community programs and businesses are sponsoring the Independent Living Project.  This workshop series helps older people continue to live independently in their homes for as long as they are able.  The program consists of weekly two-hour sessions and lasts six to eight weeks.  Participants may also sign up for a home safety inspection.

Workshops cover:

Fire and Fall Prevention

Finding Services for Older Adults -Where to Begin

Recognizing the Signs of Dementia

Your Medications Should Make You Feel Better - Not Worse

Getting the Most out of Your Next Doctor Visit

Aging Eyes/Aging Ears

50+ Nutrition

Food Safety

Getting Around in Fairfax

Are You Ready? Fairfax Prepares for the Unexpected

(Each session has a workshop and a gentle exercise program that focuses on fall prevention.)

Upcoming Sessions

Mondays, June 2 through July 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Herndon Senior Center
873 Grace Street
Herndon

Register online or call 703-324-5429, TTY 711.

The Independent Living Project is held at various venues throughout the County including libraries, senior centers and churches.

Call 703-324-5429, TTY 711 or email Jennifer Rodriguez, if you are interested in attending a session or hosting a program in your area. 

 Stress Less, Laugh More

Helping Students Perform Better on Exams

Students participated in activities that promote physical and mental well-being in times of stress.  Everyone agrees that students should give full attention to SOLs, ERBS, AP Tests and final exams, but they perform better with a full night's sleep, nutritional food and study breaks that help them clear their heads.  Stress Less, Laugh More supports students by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and Stress Less activities in local schools.

Dranesville office staff members Ben Wiles and Patti Dinkelmeyer, Supervisor John Foust and staff members Jennifer Boysko and Julie Ide.

Fairfax County Public Schools Presents

Upcoming Meetings on Later High School Start Times

VDOT Roadside Mowing Underway

Drivers asked to slow for mobile crews

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is asking motorists in northern Virginia to slow down and stay alert in work zones where crews are now mowing grass, pruning trees, cutting brush and removing litter.

Most roads will see up to three cycles of mowing through the fall, but crews may increase that frequency in locations where safety issues and weather patterns require. The first round of mowing in northern Virginia is expected to be complete by mid-June.

• Roadsides along interstates, primary roads and high-volume secondary routes are scheduled to be mowed three times through late October. Litter will be removed at the same frequency. Crews mow up to ten feet from the pavement's edge or to the center of the adjacent ditch.
• Roadsides along low-volume primary and most secondary routes will be mowed twice between now and late October. Crews mow up to nine feet from the pavement edge.
• Roadsides along unpaved routes and low-volume subdivision streets will be mowed once between now and late October, unless safety issues require more frequent attention. Crews mow up to nine feet from the pavement edge.

Keeping Crews Safe

Many of VDOT's maintenance crews and contractors mow in a slow-moving mobile operation, with tractors followed by crash cushion trucks to provide protection from traffic. Drivers are asked to:

• Watch for posted signs, slow-moving trucks, and crews along roadsides and in medians
• Slow speeds
• Move into the opposite lane where possible when approaching the work zone.

Residents are encouraged to report safety issues where vegetation blocks line of sight at VDOT's "report a road problem" page at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.aspor  or by calling 800-367-7623 (800-FOR-ROAD), TTY 711.

• Narrowing lanes to slow traffic using "road diet" techniques:  parking spaces, turn lanes and extended curbed bulb-out.
• Two-way turn lane down the center of Walker Road between the two shopping centers on west and east side. 
• New signed crosswalk between the two shopping centers.
• Right turn lane into Columbine Street from Walker Road.
• Left turn lane from north-bound Walker Road.
• Lower speed limit closer into the Village Center from 35 mph to 25 mph.

The Road Diet project originated with the Georgetown Pike, Route 193 Traffic Calming Study, prepared in 1999 by the Georgetown Pike Working Group and VDOT.  The study concluded that because the road was wider than necessary, speeding was a chronic problem, and recommended reducing speeding by narrowing the roadway with a "road diet". During the course of the study, there were a number of public information workshops to collect citizen comments on the draft plan.  

At the request of the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA), Supervisor Foust obtained funding for the project in 2009, working closely with the community through the GFCA, County engineers and VDOT representatives to arrive at a design that satisfied all the parties. Prior to construction, the plans for this project were available for review at several public meetings.

For more information, please contact Julie Ide in the office of Supervisor Foust at Julie.Ide@FairfaxCounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.

On May 13, the Board of Supervisors recognized the McLean Volunteer Fire Department/Fairfax County Fire Station Number 1 for its recent placement on the Inventory of Historic Sites by the Fairfax County History Commission.

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department received its charter in 1923, ninety one years ago. Since this was the first charter of its nature in Fairfax County, the fire department was designated as "Company 1".

Construction on the original firehouse, located on Chain Bridge Road, began in October 1924 and was completed early the following year at the cost of $5,000 plus another $2,000 for furnishings. The Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1935 to help support the station in its fundraising efforts. The auxiliary helped raise money to pay for the first ambulance in Fairfax County.

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department lead the way on several fronts: purchasing and installing the first aerial platform in Northern Virginia in 1973, admitting the first female volunteer firefighter, and the first County minority firefighter in 1974, and employing the first career woman firefighter in 1981.

In the spring of 1947 the original cinder block firehouse was demolished and a one-story structure with 4 bays and costing $43,950 was constructed.

In 1988 Fairfax County built a new state-of-the art station with much larger capacity one block away from the original site. Fairfax County retained the former station and turned over usage to the McLean Community Center. It was transformed into the Old Fire House Teen Center where it still serves the McLean youth as a hub of social activity today.

  Longfellow Middle School Science Bowl Team Recognized for

Excellent Academic Achievement by Board of Supervisors

On May 13, the Board of Supervisors recognized Longfellow Middle School Science Bowl Team and their teacher, Jim Bradford, on its 1st place win in the regional competition sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy and held in Newport News on February 1.

Science Bowl is an academic competition for middle and high school students that tests their knowledge, via a question and answer format, in biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, energy and math. Since its inception 24 years ago, the Office of Science's National Science Bowl has attracted more than 225,000 students and has become one of the nation's largest science competitions.

The Longfellow team placed first in a field of 16 middle school teams, winning a $750 prize to support science programs at the school. 

  Board of Supervisors Honors Retiring Congressmen

Jim Moran and Frank Wolf

Langley High School Students Earn Organizational Awards at International Science and Engineering Fair

Two students from Langley High School were among those winning Organizational Awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, recently held in Los Angeles.

The awards were as follows:

• Jason Cui - Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Novel Single-Cell Screening:  Optimized Droplet-Based Microfluidics for High-Throughput Screening of Adherent Cells.
• Conor Maddry - White House Presidential Fellow SmartAmerica Challenge, Pneumatic Electromyographic Exoskeleton.

For more information, contact Myra Thayer at 571-423-4785 or mthayer@fcps.edu.

  McLean Resident Margaret Malone Awarded Volunteer Fairfax's 2014 Community Champion for the Dranesville District
Other Dranesville Residents Recognized

McLean resident, Margaret Malone, has been selected by Dranesville Supervisor John Foust as the 2014 Volunteer Fairfax Community Champion for the Dranesville District.

Several other Dranesville residents were also recognized at the ceremony:

• Receiving the award for "Integrate Individual" was Roberto Quinones, who in 2003, created the DC Hispanic Employee Network as an online community to help individuals and organizations connect.  Mr. Quinones contributed significantly to the Aging in Place community movement in McLean.
• Sharon Page received the "RSVP Northern Virginia Award" as a dedicated volunteer at Hogar Immigrant Services, serving as a volunteer for the English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, program at St. Joseph's in Herndon.
• Also recognized was Dranesville resident, Laurie Turner, along with at-large award recipient Scott Wheatley, who worked with the Church of Later Day Saints to collect and send blankets to Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Ms. Malone received the award for her outstanding efforts as chairman of the Salona Park Task Force, established by Supervisor Foust and former Fairfax County Park Authority Dranesville Representative, Kevin Fay.  The award was presented to Ms. Malone at the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards on April 25. 

The Salona Park Task Force was charged with soliciting and developing recommendations to be incorporated into the Park Authority's Master Plan for Salona Park, a 41.5 acre historic property in the heart of McLean. The Task Force members represented many different organizations in the community and held a variety of ideas for how Salona should be developed. In addition, community interest in the work of the Task Force was significant.  The Task Force report, issued in December 2013, will provide valuable guidance to the Park Authority as it continues its work on developing a Master Plan for Salona.

Speaking about Ms. Malone's contributions, Supervisor Foust said, "We could not have had a better chair of the Task Force than Ms. Malone.  Dedicated, collaborative, patient and enthusiastic, Ms. Malone worked tirelessly for two and a half years on developing recommendations for how Salona, a jewel in the heart of McLean, should be developed. Our community will forever be in her debt."

Jennifer Boysko, staff member to Supervisor Foust, and Community Champion, Margaret Malone, at April 25 award ceremony.

McLean AAUW 45th Annual Used Book Collections 

In preparation for its 45th Annual Used Book Sale to be held September 19 through 21, the McLean Area AAUW will have four used book collection Saturdays.

Highly desirable contributions include musical CDs as well as DVDs of television series and movies; recent editions of histories, including military histories, biographies, political analyses,  gardening, health, general literature and business and economics books.  We also need travel books published since 2009 and, as always, we need treasured collectibles and special art books, mystery stories, children's and general interest adult books.

Collection event details:

Saturday May 31, June 21, July 19 and August 9

from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sun Trust Bank

515 Maple Avenue East

Vienna

Please note that the collection hours are shorter than in previous years and books cannot be left at the Bank outside of the collection hours.

Sale proceeds support the professional development and scholarships for women.

For more information send an email to aauwbookfair@gmail.com or call 703-527-4206.

Find Deals at Fairfax County Surplus Auction

Graduating from college and furnishing your first apartment? You can buy a few chairs and a table, desk and bookcase, all for under $100.   Buy used from Fairfax County's auction for a small fraction of what they cost new. Inventory is constantly changing - start shopping today at http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/fairfaxco,va/list/current?orgid=50663

For more information and links to other local government public auctions, visit   http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpsm/surplus.htm.