In this Issue…
Board Approves 6.7 Percent Average Tax Increase – On Tuesday the Board approved the FY 2023 budget that included several large new spending programs and a 6.7 percent increase in taxes for the average taxpayer by a vote of 9 to 1. I was the lone dissenting vote. While the approved budget contains a 3-cent reduction in the tax rate it is still the most significant increase in real estate taxes since 2006 when the Board increased the tax paid by the average resident over 10 percent due to rising assessments. I cannot support a budget with this significant of a tax increase especially at a time when our residents and businesses are dealing with the impacts of the pandemic, high gas prices, rising inflation, rising interest rates, and uncertainty caused by a war in Europe. There were very realistic options to bring down the tax rate much further if this Board were willing to make the same tough choices our residents have had to make. I’ll share more with you below on where I proposed cuts, what I do support in the budget, and what we need to do going forward.
Other News and Information
- Thank You for Supporting Ukraine
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Fire Drill 5k @ Burke Lake Park (May 1st)
- Virtual Open Houses for Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process
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Secure Document Shredding @ Rolling Valley Park and Ride (July 23rd)
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Board Approves 6.7 Percent Average Tax Increase
On Tuesday the Board approved the FY 2023 budget that included several large new spending programs and a 6.7 percent increase in taxes for the average taxpayer by a vote of 9 to 1 - I was the lone dissenting vote.
The rest of my colleagues praised this budget on Tuesday saying it reflects the values of our community, including affordability for taxpayers, but I want to set the record straight on a few points.
First, while the budget approved Tuesday contains a 3-cent reduction in the tax rate it also contains the most significant increase in taxes since 2006 when the Board increased the average tax bill over 10 percent. The FY 2023 budget includes a tax increase of 6.7 percent for the average taxpayer at a time when we are dealing with the impacts of the pandemic, high gas prices, rising inflation, rising interest rates, County real estate taxes that have already increased 45 percent over the last ten years, and uncertainty caused by a war in Europe. There were very realistic options to bring down the tax rate much further if this Board were willing to make the same tough choices our residents have had to make. Here are just a few examples I brought forward as consideration items (see all of them here):
- Save by privatizing trash service to County buildings, which are being inefficiently serviced across the County by the County hauler.
- Reduce positions in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting fewer cases and using funds to hire non-attorneys.
- Save by eliminating 52 new assistant principal positions for FCPS. Administration should not expand while enrollment has decreased significantly.
- Save by forgoing $32 million for three professional development days that FCPS has been unable to specify details on.
Second, this Board likes to blame the state for the local tax burden, for not giving us additional funding or additional ways to pick the pockets of our residents. While there is a clear imbalance in the support we get from Richmond versus the taxpayer funds we send them that needs to be addressed, let’s be clear – this tax increase is being driven primarily by the Board’s spending problems, not just Richmond.
Richmond did not make us:
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Transfer $32 million to the school system for a program that hasn’t been defined, spend millions more to add administrative staff in FCPS despite a decline in enrollment, allow consistent overestimation of enrollment, and spend millions more in pumped up estimates for budget line items. See the McLean Citizen’s Association FY2023 Budget Resolution for analysis on why the FCPS transfer should be reduced.
- Spend over $85 million on housing units for some while we make housing and the cost of living for many unaffordable.
- Pass a 5-cent tax on plastic bags.
- Spend millions on first generation electric buses, commitments to EV charging stations, solar panels, and other energy initiatives.
- Adopt a collective bargaining ordinance that will cost taxpayers millions.
- Adopt project labor agreements and a prevailing wage ordinance which County staff told the Board would increase the cost of capital projects 8-15 percent while hurting our small and minority-owned contractors.
No. The state did not make us approve these Board initiatives, most of which were approved using one-time money for recurring initiatives outside of the normal budget process.
Third, budgets should be about priorities. This year it’s clear we need to prioritize addressing employee compensation, specifically in the police department which is severely understaffed. Based on an analysis of compensation issues within our department and the compensation offered in other jurisdictions, I proposed funding a full 10 percent increase for ranks 2nd Lieutenant and below. I’m disappointed that we are not fully funding that increase to close the pay gap with surrounding jurisdictions and attract new recruits, which we have identified as a driving factor in our critically low staffing. We have made these changes with other county positions but not for these critical public safety positions. Other Board-directed spending is competing with our ability to address critical services and staffing while lowering taxes.
The Chairman likes to bring up past budgets I haven’t supported that included compensation increases. I’ll reiterate that out-of-control spending on Board initiatives is why I did not support those budgets. I want to be very clear, I did not vote against this budget because of employee increases, I support those. In fact, many of the past budgets I voted against failed to fund employee compensation and instead included Board-initiated spending. The only budget that funded compensation last year was the alternative budget that I put on the table, which fully funded the MRA and this Board wouldn’t consider it.
Speaking of my alternative budget, last year I proposed a funding reduction due to school enrollment decline and many Board members accused me of wanting to cut hundreds of teachers. This year, the very same funding reduction was taken by the schools in response to the reduction in the student population which existed last year. It’s in the budget this year without cutting hundreds of teacher positions.
Finally, while I am disappointed there was no real effort among my colleagues to reduce spending, there were some bright spots in the budget and throughout the budget process. This year I saw many more citizens participate in the budget process than usual, testifying and providing the majority of ideas for reducing spending, especially the McLean Citizens Association (MCA) and my Citizens’ Budget Review Committee.
Within the budget, these are some things I was happy to see:
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The reduction on Machinery and Tools tax to help existing and prospective breweries in the County, which I first brought to the Board in 2019 and again in 2021.
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A start on Senior Tax Relief. This was a start, but not enough to keep our seniors on fixed incomes from having to leave due to rising tax burdens. I have asked staff to look at addressing the disparity between seniors with 401k(s) and those with pensions.
- Cuts to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. He has stopped prosecuting misdemeanors (and many felonies) which has further burdened our understaffed police department. Still, he cannot get the job done and is not hiring attorneys with the resources we are providing.
- Employee Compensation – This is the only budget in the last several years to fully fund employee compensation, except the one I proposed last year.
- Park Authority funding to address protecting our natural resources.
- There was a modest reduction in the school transfer thanks to the questions posed by the MCA and my Citizens’ Budget Review Committee.
Even with these bright spots, I cannot support this budget overall. The Board is taxing residents out of their homes and making it unaffordable for our children to stay here. The County and FCPS have received or are expected to receive over a billion dollars in federal aid as of January 22, yet we continue to raise taxes.
Where to go from here?
Even though the FY 2023 budget will be formally adopted on May 10th, I am continuing to work with staff and my Citizens' Budget Review Committee to follow up on areas they have identified where the County can reduce costs and increase efficiencies. We need to review programs for effectiveness and some for elimination. We need to make taxpayers and affordability a priority, not an afterthought as it is in the Countywide Strategic Plan. Finally, we need to find ways to do more with less as our citizens have had to do.
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Other News and Information
Thank You for Supporting Ukraine
Countywide, we have had a vast amount of donations to support the Ukrainian refugees. Reports estimate at least 3 full trailers filled with materials, which may be the largest number of materials we have ever collected. A special thank you to all those who donated, Paxton Moving, and those who have volunteered to help sort and pack.
This collaborative effort between elected leaders and the community to collect coats, blankets, socks, and gloves for the Ukrainian refugees is truly an inspiration. Our office alone needed multiple pick-ups for all the supplies. Please know that you have greatly helped through this aid program.
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Fire Drill 5k at Burke Lake Park for May 1st
Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue are hosting the Fire Drill 5k and Fun Run on May 1st at Burke Lake Park. It will start at 8am. Come show support to our first responders by clicking here for more information.
Virtual Open Houses for Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process
Recommended changes to the county’s process for submitting and reviewing proposed land use changes for individual sites will soon head to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for consideration and adoption. This process, known as the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process, currently operates on a four-year cycle. Using public feedback and staff analysis, the county is recommending a series of changes, which 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.
The four Open Houses are scheduled for:
- Saturday, May 7 at 9am
- Wednesday, May 11 at noon
- Wednesday, May 11 at 7pm
- Thursday, May 12 at 9am
Secure Document Shredding at Rolling Valley Park and Ride on July 23rd (rescheduled from May 21)
The County is once again providing document shredding service, which is open to residents of Fairfax County, Herndon, the Town of Vienna, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.
Shredding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Springfield District’s shredding event will be at Rolling Valley Park and Ride on July 23rd. Events are from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., unless the trucks fill up prior to the end time. All participants must be in line by 11 a.m. to be served. Please be aware, however, that when the shredding trucks are full, the event will end.
There is a four (4) box limit, based on standard banker/copy box size (12.5” W x 15.5” L x 10.5” H). If you bring documents in plastic bags, please do not tie them. All boxes, plastic/paper bags, or other containers will be returned to you after emptying.
Due to traffic and safety concerns, you may not exit your vehicle or stay in the area to watch shredding. The contractor guarantees all documents will be shredded on-site. For the full list of shredding events, visit the program webpage.
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Email
Office
(703) 451-8873
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Free Summer Concert Series @ Burke Lake Park |
Every Wednesday 7pm
July 13th- August 24th
More details to come
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Looking for a stunning wallflower? Look no further! With her green eyes and patchwork coat of many colors, she is a beauty. Ziva began her life in a community cat colony. She was taken in by a foster and then transferred to us from a rescue partner. Slowly but surely, she is learning to trust her people. Ziva also enjoys the company of her feline companions. Like a little flower, all she needs is some tender loving care and patience to blossom. If you would like to meet Ziva, click here to arrange a visit.
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