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Feb. 23, 2022

Neighbors,

Yesterday, the county executive presented his proposed FY 2023 Budget to the Board of Supervisors. As we begin review of this budget proposal, please note that residents have two months to engage and discuss the choices we have before moving forward with this budget.

You can watch the presentation and my remarks here. I am in the midst of reviewing it and there are a lot of details to get through. I encourage you to read the links below and provide me with your input. Following the budget review process and approval by the Board, the FY 2023 Budget becomes effective July 1, 2022.
In addition, county property owners will soon receive their 2022 real estate assessments notices in the mail or you can look up online. Based on equalization changes (market-driven value increases or decreases), countywide residential real estate assessments are up an average of 9.57%, with the average assessment for all homes at $668,974. The average increase in Hunter Mill District is 9.07%.

It is very important to note that the estimated tax levy shown on your assessment notice is just that — an estimate. As required by state law, the estimated tax for 2022 is based on the 2022 assessment and Fairfax County’s 2021 tax rates. This is an estimate because the Board of Supervisors has not yet adopted tax rates for 2022. Learn more.



County Executive's FY 2023 Proposed Budget:

Key Points:
 
What to Know About the Proposed Budget:
 
Provide Your Input:
  • Email: HunterMill@Fairfaxcounty.gov
  • Virtual Budget Town Hall on Wednesday, March 30, 7 to 9 p.m.: The meeting will be hosted on the Webex platform. Melanie Meren, Fairfax County School Board representative for Hunter Mill District and Christina Jackson, Fairfax County's Chief Financial Officer will also be participating. The meeting will be hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. To listen to the meeting on your phone, call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 2334 051 4882. You also can watch the meeting on YouTube Live.
  • Public Hearings: Board of Supervisors' public hearings are scheduled for April 12-14.
 
I look forward to hearing from you!

Respectfully,
Walter
COVID-19 Update (Feb. 23)
Data resources:

Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
  • Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here
  • Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here
Our Environment; What You Can Do
Volunteer Opportunities
As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, the news about the environment, climate change, greenhouse emissions and more can be overwhelming. However, each one of us can roll up our sleeves and help out in our local community with something as simple as a trash clean-up day, or clearing invasive plants in our parks. (That's me in the photo at Reston Association's clean up day last year.)

The county's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has put together a great list of opportunities for volunteers who want to help keep their streets and streams clean and their natural areas green. Here's where to start.

Home Composting 101
The Fairfax Food Council is hosting Compost Crew for a discussion on compost science, best practices and large-scale composting in Fairfax County. Part two will be “The Compost Diaries." Three community members and home compost enthusiasts talk about their personal experience composting with their families. There will also be a Q&A session to help make composting easier for you. Learn more and register.
Parking Reimagined Update
The Parking Reimagined project continues its review and in-depth analysis of the county’s off-street parking and loading rates and regulations, located in Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance.

With the goal to modernize parking and loading requirements, county staff is currently drafting a conceptual framework of the ordinance. This framework would implement parking tiers, which addresses concerns that a one size fits all approach to parking regulations is not appropriate for Fairfax County.

An update on the framework will be presented on March 15 at the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee, and the draft framework will be shared later this year for public feedback. To stay informed about the Parking Reimagined project, subscribe to email updates by selecting ‘Off-Street Parking and Loading ZOA’ on the county’s email subscriptions page.

Board of Supervisors Update
The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, Feb. 22 with a full agenda. In addition to the county executive's proposed budget presentation, noted at the top of this newsletter, additional highlights are noted below. You can review the board materials here and watch the meeting here.

  • Changes to Voting Precincts: As a result of redistricting, Fairfax County is proposing changes to its voting precincts, adjusting boundaries, consolidating and creating new precincts and moving or establishing polling places. Required by state law, these adjustments and changes focus on eliminating split precincts before the June 21 primary election. The Board approved a March 8 public hearing on the proposal. Learn more.
  • Fairfax Connector to Provide Enhanced Service in the Reston-Herndon Area: The Board approved Fairfax Connector bus service changes in the Reston-Herndon area that include connections to the new Metrorail Silver Line stations in Fairfax County (Herndon Station, Reston Town Center Station, and Innovation Center Station). These service changes will go into effect when the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) begins service to the new Metrorail Silver Line stations. Learn more.
Land Use and Transportation
Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Update
My office and Task Force members are beginning the first phase of community outreach of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study. These interim recommendations have been received by the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development and are undergoing a comprehensive review. The Transportation chapter is also undergoing a thorough review by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Input by the county agencies is expected by spring/early summer and community outreach will continue through the summer.
Meetings that have been scheduled to date for the Task Force members to present their interim recommendations include:
  • Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 24
  • Reston Association, March 2
  • Reston Citizens Association, March 7
  • Baltimore-DC Building Trades, March 15
  • Reston Planning & Zoning, March 21
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.

Reston Planning & Zoning Virtual Meeting, Monday, Feb. 28, 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 Access Code: 2335 606 9904. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. More information.
What's News in Vienna
Sustainability Initiatives
The Town constantly looks for new and innovative approaches to mitigating greenhouse gas pollution and promoting energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
Learn about Vienna’s initiatives by visiting one of the web pages below:
Public Safety Update
Bias Incident on Feb. 20
I was very troubled to learn that our Fairfax County Police Department is investigating a bias incident that occurred on Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Dranesville District, but very close to our community.

A resident who lives north of the Dulles Toll Road found a sealed plastic bag containing an anti-Semitic flyer weighted with corn kernels on his property. Prior to police arrival, he found an additional 70 to 80 flyers throughout the neighborhood. The Police are actively working with the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington to ensure the community is aware of these flyers. Patrols have been increased as a precaution.

If anyone has information about these flyers, call the Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau at 703-802-2750. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download the Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. 

Incidents such as this are unacceptable and I am very sorry for those who were affected.
3 Things to Know Today
Rec-PAC Hosts Open Hires to Fill 200+ Summer Jobs
Rec-PAC, affiliated with the Fairfax County Park Authority, is hosting virtual interviews and in-person open hires to fill more than 200 summer jobs, including camp counselors, camp directors and area supervisors. Learn more.

OnStage – Live Music At The Workhouse Series Begins March 5
The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton will begin its live music series on March 5. The performers in this musical series have been carefully curated from the District/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region, as well as national and international rosters. Categories range from classical to contemporary. Learn more.

Volunteers Sought for Boy Scout District Committee
The committee serves as an executive board for all Boy Scouts of America programs in the Herndon and Reston areas. The BSA has both coed and single-sex units for youth up to the age of 20. Previous Scouting experience is not necessary, and adults of any age can help. This is a great opportunity for a young adult to get some executive board experience. For more information, and a list of program areas, email volunteer@powhatan-scouting.org.
Stay Informed and In Touch
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711