April 10, 2024

Neighbors,

As the Board of Supervisors gets ready to adopt the county’s budget on May 7, I want to hear from you.

We’re holding three days of public hearings next week to get your feedback on the county executive’s proposed budget.

I’ve also held two town hall meetings to understand your budget priorities and concerns.

Understandably, some people are concerned about real estate taxes. This is the first time in six years that the county executive has proposed an increase in the real estate tax rate. Increasing the tax rate is not something I take lightly, and we need to find efficiencies in county and related operations to reduce the burden on homeowners to support critical local and community services.

I’ve also heard from Vienna residents worried about the proposal to push school crossings responsibility onto the Town of Vienna. Along with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, at the next Board of Supervisors meeting I will be asking the Fairfax County Police to come back to the board with an alternative plan to find efficiencies while ensuring that these crossings remain guarded and our children are protected.

Other people have expressed support for the county’s ongoing efforts to preserve and create more affordable housing. This is a critical need with a continuum of challenges — from young professionals just starting their careers to employees in lower skilled jobs to our unhoused population.

And, I have also heard from county and Fairfax County Public School employees about the recruitment and retention challenges facing the county and our public schools. This is both the biggest challenge financially, and for FCPS, it is a challenge we face mostly locally with inadequate funding from the Commonwealth which was underscored in last year’s landmark Virginia JLARC Study on public education funding.

I encourage you to share your thoughts during the upcoming public hearings at the Fairfax County Government Center:

• April 16 at 4 p.m.
• April 17 at 3 p.m.
• April 18 at 3 p.m.

At these hearings, there are several ways you can offer your input:

• Sign up to testify in person
• Testify by phone
• Testify by video
• Email your written testimony

Of course, you can always contact me with your feedback about the budget or any other issue.

Regards,

Walter

Join me and other community volunteers on Earth Day, along with Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, Celebrate Fairfax and the Tysons Community Alliance.

Choose from a variety of activities, including an educational nature walk and litter pickup with Park Authority experts through Raglan Road Park. Join me at 10:30 a.m. for a trash clean-up in Tysons Forest along the Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley. The event ends at The PARC at Tysons with an opportunity to beautify the area around this community hub. Learn more and sign up!

You can also drop off your compost or learn how to get started when you visit The PARC anytime between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This Earth Day event is a great opportunity to help preserve and enhance valuable forested areas in Tysons, the county’s urban “downtown" and aligns with the recommendations being developed by the Tysons Forest Community Task Force.

Reston Planning and Zoning (P&Z) April 15 Meeting Canceled

Because there are no pending applications, the Reston P&Z meeting previously scheduled for Monday, April 15 is canceled. For more information, email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting Tuesday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.

The Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Meeting is Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting. Dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 249 405 578# For more information, email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

At the last Reston District Police Station Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting, a new chair and vice chair were elected.

Dave Adams was elected chair, and he has worked in local and federal law enforcement, including 21 years in the Secret Service. He is currently a real estate agent. John Pinkman was elected as vice chair. He spent more than 45 years as a volunteer coach and professional baseball instructor in Reston. He also organized his neighborhood’s first National Night Out event and graduated from the Fairfax County Community Police Academy.

Meet them at the next CAC meeting on April 24 at 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston. These meetings are open to anyone who’s interested. For more information, email jenette.post@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Attend the Green Expo on Thursday, April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., SE, Vienna. Get expert tips on sustainability, solar power, energy efficiency, composting and more.

Vienna resident Susan Stillman will talk about her experience designing, building and moving into her new solar-powered home. Plus interact with live animals. New this year are ewes and lambs, and see birds of prey. Sign up for a chance to get a home energy audit worth $595.

R4 Shredding and Recycling Day April 17

Bring papers and documents for shredding at Reston Town Center’s R4 (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Reston) Collection Day on Wednesday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop off items to shred or recycle, including home electronics, toner cartridges and paint, at Freedom Plaza (across the street from the Purple Garage, between 11951 and 11955 Freedom Drive).

Apply for Friends of Southgate Community Center’s Education Scholarship

High school students graduating this year may apply for an education scholarship from the Friends of Southgate Community Center. The group will award up to $1,000 to help pay for college, technical or trade school. Apply online by April 27. For information or questions, email Maryam at maryam@belovedoga.com.

Wiehle Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Installation April 13

To install a new pedestrian bridge at the W&OD Trail, Wiehle Avenue at the intersection with Sunset Hills Road will be closed from midnight to 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 13. Traffic from Wiehle Avenue will be detoured to Sunset Hills Road, Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue. The bridge will make it safer for walkers, bikers and drivers moving through this area.