April 27, 2022

Neighbors,

Yesterday, April 26, the Board of Supervisors approved the mark-up of the FY 2023 Budget. The next step is to formally vote on the budget on May 10 and it will go into effect this July 1, 2022. Thank you to everyone who participated in the budget process, providing input at meetings, or by email and phone calls. The budget affects every resident and business in Fairfax County so it is absolutely important to hear your issues and concerns.

Below is a brief summary and I encourage you to review yesterday's Board package or watch the discussion. 

Tax Relief - A total of $199.4 million in tax relief was approved, including:

• Real Estate: The Board approved reducing the Real Estate Tax Rate by three cents from $1.14 to $1.11 per $100 of assessed value.
• Car Tax: We reduced the ratio for assessing the Personal Property Tax (car tax) by 15 percent from 100% to 85% of market value. This change save taxpayers a total of almost $98 million. Please note that even with the ratio reduction, many residents will see an increase in their car tax when bills are mailed in July, due to the unprecedented increase in the values of new and used cars.
• Local Business: The Board approved a lower tax rate and depreciation schedule for the Machinery and Tools Tax for our local business community.
• Tax Relief for Seniors and People With Disabilities: Expanded tax relief was approved by the Board in December and will continue in FY 2023.

Programs and Services:

• Affordable Housing: One of my biggest priorities for Hunter Mill District - and countywide - is to greatly increase our affordable housing units. The FY 2023 budget allocates $44.7 million in total for this goal, including $29.7 million in baseline county funds and $15 million allocated from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. We need to do more but these steps in the right direction.
• Parks: The Board approved significant resources for the Fairfax County Park Authority. The mark-up package includes an additional $751,954 for new positions and other support for natural resources sustainability efforts. In response to input from residents and groups, the Board also approved budget guidance that provides direction on the use of a $500,000 allocation from the Advertised Budget package for a pilot equity program.
• Public Safety and Employee Compensation: To address retention and recruitment issues for many of our uniformed public safety positions, the mark-up package includes more than $6 million to advance eligible uniformed employees one additional step on their respective pay plans. Fairfax County Public Schools and several of our county agencies are also feeling the impacts of staff shortages and the Board prioritized compensation increases, including a 4.01% Market Rate Adjustment for county employees. 

Here are additional information resources from Fairfax County. If you have any questions, please contact my office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov

• Tax Relief, Affordable Housing, Public Safety Compensation Among FY 2023 Budget Mark-Up Changes
• Board of Supervisors Approves 15% Tax Relief for Personal Property Taxes

Respectfully,

Walter

Uptick in COVID-19 Cases Prompts Fairfax Health District to Urge Continued Vigilance

• Community Levels By County
• Fairfax County COVID-19 Data Dashboard
• How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue and Build Resiliency During Challenging Times

Farmers Markets are back in Hunter Mill District! It's that great time of year when we can visit our Farmers Markets and enjoy delicious food from local vendors. I hope to see you at one of our markets this season:

Reston Farmers Market

Lake Anne Village Center, 1609-A Washington Plaza

Saturdays, April 30 - Dec. 3

8 a.m. to Noon

Learn more

Herndon Farmers Market 

Old Town Herndon, 700 Block of Lynn St., By the Red Caboose

Thursdays, April 28 - Nov. 3

8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Learn more

Town of Vienna Farmers Market 

Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE

Saturdays, May 7 - Oct. 29

8 a.m. to noon 

Learn more

It's less than three weeks until the Tour de Hunter Mill gets underway on Saturday, May 14 at 8:30 a.m. The event, including a five-mile family route and a 18-mile route, begins in the Town of Vienna at the Town Green at 144 Maple Avenue E. This is a great opportunity for bicyclists at all levels to enjoy a scenic ride with neighbors. The ride showcases Unity in our Community, as together we discover or revisit the many hidden treasures, cultural and environmental resources in the Hunter Mill District. The registration fee is $30 per rider, which includes Tour de Hunter Mill socks and and a contribution to the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, which provides operational support. Please note that the event is rain or shine. More information and to register.

Virtual Open Houses For Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process

Join an upcoming virtual open house to learn about the proposed recommendations and enhancements to the county's site-specific plan amendment process, based on public feedback and staff analysis. The four open houses run May 7-12. Proposed changes include creating a countywide, two-year cycle, shortening the submission and screening period timelines, adapting community engagement to suit the needs of the study areas, and enhancing the criteria for submissions. Learn more about the recommended changes to the SSPA process and get details on attending an open house. 

App Provides Updates on New Home Construction in Your Neighborhood

The Department of Land Development Services has published a new web-based application that allows you to see where single-family home construction is occurring in your neighborhood. You can sign up to receive weekly email notifications by district for these site-related plans – called Infill (INF) and Conservation (CON) plans. A map shows the submitted, approved or disapproved plans within the last six months. Learn more in the app.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Update; Upcoming Meetings

County staff review of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study is underway. Upcoming Task Force meetings to discuss county staff input are:

• Monday, May 16, 5 to 7 p.m. The meeting is hosted on Webex, Use this link to attend and participate. You may also watch the meeting on YouTube.
• Tuesday, May 17, 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting is hosted on Webex, Use this link to attend and participate. You may also watch the meeting on YouTube.

To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the Task Force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The archive of meeting details and agendas is here. The video archive of all past task force meetings can be found on my YouTube page. If you have questions or would like to provide input, please email restonplantaskforce@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Reston Planning & Zoning Virtual Meeting, Monday, May 16, 7:30 p.m. 

The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use code: 2341 731 4210. For information, contact Lisa Connors, 703-478-0283.

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Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting, Tuesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.

The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use code: 2339 372 3062. For information, contact Paul Davis, 703-478-0283.

Green Expo is Tomorrow, April 28

The Green Expo hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Conservation and Sustainability Commission, features nearly two dozen exhibitors where you can learn more about composting, beekeeping, pollinators, native gardens, green landscaping, home energy efficiency and much more. Attendees can enter a drawing to win a free rain barrel or composter. The Green Expo will be at the Vienna Community Center, Thursday, April 28, from 7-9 p.m. Learn more. 

Drug Take Back Day is This Saturday April 30

Get rid of old, expired medications in your home safely by dropping them off at the Vienna Police Department on National Drug Take-Back Day on April 30. Residents can stop by 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and drop the medications in the collection box inside the Vienna Police Department temporary facility located at 301 Center St. South (formerly Faith Baptist Church).

Reston District CAC Meeting is Tonight April 27 at 7 p.m.

The Police Department's Reston Community Advisory Committee is in-person on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 pm. The meeting will take place in the community room at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive in Reston. Presentation will include updates on public safety in the community and a presentation by the Police Department's Gang Investigations Unit. For more information contact MPO Katy Defoe

Fairfax County Drug Take Back Day is This Saturday, April 30

Residents are encouraged to participate in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can dispose of your unused or expired medications at several locations throughout the county, including a drive through event at Reston Hospital. Learn more.

Dark Sky Week

The Board of Supervisors recently declared this week as Dark Sky Week to bring awareness to light trespass and light pollution that affects wildlife and plant life in many ways. On Monday, I presented the Board's proclamation to Dark Sky advocate and Hunter Mill resident Eileen Kragie. Learn more about the importance of Dark Sky lighting to our environment from the Fairfax County Park Authority. 

Protect Yourself From Ticks

Watch this video from the Fairfax County Health Department to learn how you can protect yourself and your family from ticks during the upcoming warm months. 

RCC Presents Summer Concert Series at Reston Station

Reston Community Center will present their popular free Thursday evening summer concerts at Reston Station. These concerts offer a variety of musical styles with monthly “dance night” instruction on Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn more.