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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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Email
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Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Greetings,
Four years ago, when our Board began the process of adopting the budget for Fiscal Year 2013, I began my remarks with the following:
April 24, 2012
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Our Mark-up today is the first budget of this Board's four year term. It is quite a contrast from four years ago when we adopted a budget to a backdrop of what is now known as "The Great Recession." Our nation was experiencing the failure of financial and lending institutions, plummeting property values and rising unemployment. We were also struggling to meet rising demands for human services, food stamps and for rental and mortgage assistance.
Today, while not entirely out of the woods, we are beginning to see evidence of recovery, a slow and sluggish recovery, but recovery none-the-less. ....
Hopefully we are beginning to see the dawn of a new day.
Suffice it to say, I was overly optimistic.
During the years following that FY13 Budget adoption, Fairfax County has struggled with a historically sluggish recovery, exacerbated by the effects of sequestration and cutbacks in federal contracting. County cost cutting measures that were accepted as necessary when the Recession first materialized (freezing County salaries, reductions in force, cutbacks in library hours and materials, budget cuts across the board in County programs and services) eventually have caused some serious "fraying around the edges," per The Washington Post, (April 2, 2016).
Former County Executive Tony Griffin's prediction in the throes of the Recession years that "this will be our new normal," has proven to be prescient.
I am writing this Byline opening letter to provide some context for our Board's decision to put the question of a
Meals Tax to the voters. While our county continues to work hard to identify savings and to
diversify and stimulate our commercial tax base, we are also hoping to
diversity the local revenue sources available to provide the quality services our residents value and rely upon - top notch schools, safe communities, compassionate human services.
In Virginia, towns and cities are allowed a greater array of revenue sources, including the right to adopt a meals tax. Most cities and towns within and around us have a meals tax: Alexandria, Arlington, Herndon, Vienna, Falls Church, Fairfax City, Leesburg, Manassas, Manassas Park and the District of Columbia.
Counties in Virginia (which were mostly rural farmland when early tax authorities were allocated) are only able to implement a meals tax following a successful voter referendum.
This question will be put to Fairfax County voters on November 8th.
If the referendum is successful, and a 4% tax on restaurant meals and prepared foods (e.g. at delis) is adopted, it would raise almost $100 million. The intended use of the meals tax revenue is described in the statement below.
By now you should have received information from the County explaining the bond referendums and the meals tax questions. These documents are meant to be informational and not advocate for or against. If you have not received something, please let my office know and we will be glad to follow up for you.
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A lot is happening this October! See inside this Byline some of the fun things available for you and your family. We are a great County and I thank you for your interest and engagement in the community!
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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| Joint Statement on the Meals Tax Referendum |
Chairman Sandy Evans of the Fairfax County School Board and I wrote this statement together to offer some clarifying language on the proposed meals tax:
The meals tax is intended to diversify county revenue and to supplement and not supplant support for school and county services.
The meals tax would create a new revenue source, paid by diners in Fairfax County who are county residents, tourists, and workers who live in neighboring jurisdictions.
The School Board has committed that its share, estimated to be almost $70 million in new funding, will be used primarily to address teachers' salaries, which have lagged behind neighboring communities.
Almost $30 million would be available to address general county services or capital improvements such as in public safety, mental health services, libraries, and parks, as well as providing for property tax relief.
Note:
the meals tax, if approved, would not be levied in the Town of Clifton, or in the Towns of Herndon and Vienna, where a meals tax has already been implemented.
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| Got the Dot? |
In the aftermath of a car crash or emergency, first responders need to know what medical conditions people might have, especially if they are unconscious or unable to talk. The Fairfax County Yellow Dot Program could save your life if first responders are aware of critical medical conditions. It's simple:
- Visit your local fire station for a kit.
- Fill out the booklet in pencil (so you can make future updates).
- Attach a current photo into the booklet.
- Place the booklet in your glove compartment.
- Place the yellow dot decal in the lower left of your rear windshield to alert first responders to check the glove compartment for vital medical information.
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| Fairfax County Establishes Independent Police Auditor Position |
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the establishment of the Office of the Independent Police Auditor on September 20, 2016. Creating this new position is the latest in Fairfax County's efforts to make our police department a national model for transparency and accountability.
The Auditor
will review all investigations of death or serious injury cases, as well as all Police use of force cases that are the subject of a public complaint made to the FCPD or the Auditor. The Auditor will report directly to the Board of Supervisors and work closely with the Civilian Review Panel when the County establishes it, hopefully later this year.
I believe our Board, working with Police Chief Roessler and members of the Commission, has achieved a positive outcome that will enhance trust between our community and our Police Department.
I am proud of how far we have come over the past year. The Ad Hoc Commission delivered its 202 recommendations to the Board of Supervisors less than a year ago, and since then Fairfax County has:
- Established Diversion First, a program to divert individuals experiencing mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities to treatment or support rather than jail;
- Re-engineered police officer training with a focus on crisis de-escalation and protecting the sanctity of life;
- Reorganized the FCPD Public Affairs Bureau and hired a full-time civilian Communications Director;
- Established and implemented a policy to release names of officers involved in critical incidents within 10 days and to provide updates at least every 30 days;
- Collected and published key data on police interactions, including use of force and officer-involved shootings;
- Established the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.
More is on the immediate horizon. The next meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be held on October 25 at 1pm in Rooms 9/10 of the Fairfax County Government Center. The topic will be the creation of an Independent Civilian Review Panel.
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| Find New and Upgraded Bike Lanes Near You |
Bicyclists will have more dedicated lanes in Fairfax County thanks to VDOT's 2016 Paving Program. This year's efforts will result in nearly 20 miles of new and upgraded bike lanes. Also, 3.5 miles in upgraded buffered bike lanes are in the works on Telegraph Road from the Fairfax County Parkway to Hilltop Village Center Drive. These feature the county's first bicycle two-stage left turn. The county currently has 368 miles of bike lanes, paths and trails, which include approximately 70 miles of on-street facilities. The county's goal of creating a 1,130-mile bike network was approved by the Board of Supervisors in the Bicycle Master Plan in fall 2014. Keep an eye out for new and upgraded bike lanes:
Braeburn Drive (Braddock District): Guinea Road to Wakefield Chapel Road
Coffer Woods Road (Braddock District): Burke Center Parkway to New England Woods Drive
Patriot Drive (Braddock District): Heritage Drive to Americana Drive
Queensberry Avenue (Braddock District): Braddock Road to Heming Avenue
Heritage Drive (Braddock and Mason Districts): Ravensworth Road to Little River Turnpike
Ravensworth Road (Mason District): Braddock Road to Little River Turnpike
Markham Street (Mason District): McWhorter Place to Little River Turnpike
McWhorter Place (Mason District): Markham Street to Ravensworth Road
John Marr Drive (Mason District): Ravensworth Road to Backlick Road
Southrun Road (Mount Vernon District): Silverbrook Road to Ambrose Court
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| Upcoming Fall Festivities & Halloween Events |
Our area is home to many fall events as the weather turns crisp and cool. If you enjoy history, you may be interested in Centreville Day on October 15, 2016. March in the American Legion Parade, enter your pet in a pageant, dip a candle, make a corn husk doll, go trick or treating in the marketplace, shop for crafts, stop for food, and tour museums and historical homes.
If you are looking for a "spooky" event for little kids, then check out the
Boo-Stravaganza at Frying Pan Park on October 13. Come in costume and enjoy games, wagon rides and lots of treats!
Fields of Fear, hosted by Cox Farms, is recommended for kids ages 12+ and is open through October 29. The event certainly lives up to its name, so don't say I didn't warn you!
Get a sense of Halloweens past as you tour
Sully Historic Site in a new light - lantern light - on Saturday evening, October 22. Sully will be hosting a
Historic All Hallows Eve to return visitors to a time before superhero costumes and candy corn. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Virginians celebrated All Hallows Eve with storytelling, fortune telling, fall foods and family gatherings. You can experience these traditions at Sully Historic Site with your family as you tour the house and grounds by lantern light.
Get an early start on Halloween fun by stopping by Fall Fest at Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, October 22. Come to the Lake Accotink marina for Halloween-themed mini-golf and haunted carousel rides. You can play as many rounds as you want and ride as many times as you want. Registered participants will receive a trick-or-treat goodie bag, too!
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| Annual Library Jubilee | Celebrate and Support Our Libraries |
The Fairfax County Library Foundation and the Dolley Madison Library in McLean invites you to attend a
Library Jubilee Fundraiser on October 15, 5:30 to 8:00pm. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, live music, and a silent auction where 100% of proceeds support our local libraries. One of the special guests this year will be New York Times Bestselling mystery and thriller author,
Linda Castillo, who has published more than two dozen works. Her bestseller
SWORN TO SILENCE was adapted into a Lifetime Original Movie starring Neve Campbell. I hope you will be able to stop by!
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
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| Experience Tysons - Community Showcase and Open House |
Come see what THE NEW Tysons has to offer with the Experience Tysons - Showcase and Open House! On October 19 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, the event will be held at BASIS Independent, 8000 Jones Branch Drive, hosted by Tysons Partnership and Fairfax County. Not only will there be delicious food offered by local restaurants and tunes from musicians in the area, but you can also come to learn about what is going on with transportation and transit improvements, as well as other plan changes taking place in the community. County staff and developers will be present if you would like to learn more about certain projects. For more details, please contact
[email protected]
or call the Office of Community Revitalization at (703)-324-9300.
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| Using Less Energy to Power Local Government Buildings |
Fairfax County has been working to use less energy than we have in previous years to conserve natural resources and reduce costs for taxpayers. I'm pleased to report that overall uses of both electrical and natural gas energy have decreased. This means that Fairfax is helping the environment by using less energy in buildings and spending less to power facilities. This is a great step in helping the environment. The data that the County has collected splits into the following categories: Public Works, Government Buildings, Parks, and Housing and Human Services. The County will update this information periodically as new data becomes available.
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| Almost One Month Until the Election! |
Also, please read up on the Meals Tax Referendum, which will be on your ballot this November. If voters approve a meals tax, 70% of the revenue (approximately $70 million) would supplement funding for Fairfax County Public Schools.
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