At this week's Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, we formally adopted the FY 2024 Budget, developed in conjunction with our community. I have listened to you and worked with my colleagues to take a balanced approach to this year's budget by investing in our workforce, providing car tax relief, reducing the real estate tax rate, and investing in our community’s priorities, particularly our highest priority - Fairfax County Public Schools. While I strongly advocated to lower the real estate tax rate further, it was not possible with the other pressing needs in our County and the lack of a final state approved budget. I did not think the trade off's proposed in large cuts to our schools and housing were best for our future.

This budget recognizes the impact of inflation on our residents and on our ability to recruit and retain employees. It provides funding for key priorities in education, public safety, housing, environmental protection, parks, libraries, mental health treatment; and recognizes our future is uncertain and we must prepare for tougher times ahead.

Thank you to everyone who wrote, emailed, stopped by or called my office, attended my Budget Town Meeting, and testified at our three days of public hearings. You made a difference in this budget. I am honored to serve our residents who care so much about one another and are willing to stand up for our values. This budget takes a balanced approach by:

The Board also readopted zMOD and subsequent zoning modifications made since the original adoption. While the Board indisputably met all legislative requirements regarding public notice, access and comment for an electronic meeting where zMOD was originally adopted, the Virginia Supreme Court interpreted the legislation narrowly to exclude consideration and adoption of zMOD. The Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) project replaces the previous 1978 Ordinance, is easier to read and understand and includes more tables, graphics and hyperlinks. The Ordinance has been integrated into a user-friendly online platform that will be easy to navigate and usable on multiple devices, including cellphones and tablets. The new Ordinance includes modernized land uses and regulations, and corrected gaps and inconsistencies in other regulations.

I joined a Board Matter with Chairman Jeff McKay to direct County staff to review the County's data center development process and return to the Board with findings and recommendations by the end of the year. As the need for data centers grows and technology evolves, our processes need to keep up. Data centers are important, but need to be built to strong environmental standards and in the right location. Staff is directed to research what advances are being made to address potential environmental issues; to research potential environmental issues and mitigations; to develop locational guidelines that address siting facilities; and to review how data centers should be approved.

Respectfully yours in public service,

Dan Storck

The following are highlights from the Board of Supervisors May 9, 2023 meeting, including items of particular interest to Mount Vernon residents. For additional information, please go to the County’s Board Agenda and Meeting Schedule. The clerk to the board's official Summary of Board Actions is available the week following each meeting. Information is also available by a video linked to the board agenda and the Board of Supervisors Highlights podcast. 

Para recibir la información de nuestro boletín electrónico en español, o para hablar con un hispanohablante, comuníquese con Madeleine Carcamo Reyes a su preferencia, por teléfono al (703) 780-7518 o por correo electrónico: [email protected].

To view the May 9, 2023 Board Package click here. For a complete listing of public hearings held and approved, please see the Clerk to the Board's official Summary of Board Actions, available the week following each meeting.

My Board colleagues and I recognize that our residents are feeling the stress of the rising cost of living brought on by a host of issues including nationwide inflation. In response, the FY 2024 Budget provides over $100 million in tax relief to residents in several ways. First through a 10% reduction in personal property tax assessments valued at $64 million. This action will hold most car tax bills steady, or even lower them, and follows last year’s 15% reduction. The budget reduces the real estate tax rate by 1.5 cents per $100 of value, reducing revenue by $47 million. Over the past two years, our Board expanded real estate tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities, and this year we are providing an additional $2.7 million in relief. I remain committed to continuing to find ways to lower the tax burden on our homeowners through tax relief, and especially through the diversification of revenue, while still delivering high quality core services.

Our highest priority remains our Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the economic driver of our County. It is critical we always support high quality public education. This budget fully funds the FCPS budget request of $2.41 billion, including the full pay raise for teachers.

This budget fully funds the compensation packages for our County workforce. This is an investment in our core services that make Fairfax County the great place that it is. High quality public schools, safe neighborhoods and a high quality of life attract businesses and allow them to create good jobs and grow. Services that protect our most vulnerable residents including seniors, youth facing mental health issues and people experiencing homelessness are also essential.

Our investment in the workforce is the largest our Board has made in decades. The budget funds the full Market Rate Adjustment of 5.44%, which means all County employees will receive at least this amount. It also fully funds the longevity and performance increases and makes critical investments in our defined-benefit pension plans. General, non-uniformed County employees will receive between 5.44% and 9.44% with those on the lowest end of the pay scale receiving the most.

This budget makes record investments in public safety, especially in our Fairfax County Police Department. FCPD officers will receive an average increase of 12.8% (with a range of 10.44% to 15.44% and a small amount getting over 20%). When combined with the 9.3% average increase in FY 2023 our Board has increased police pay by 22.1% over two years. The budget also raises the starting salary in the Police Department from $56,000 to $65,000. Our investments in our Police Department, including hiring bonuses and previous pay increases, are already paying off in the current Academy class that is the largest in 10 years. These measures will play a big role in keeping Fairfax County the safest jurisdiction of our size in the country. For our Fire and Rescue Department, Sheriff’s Deputies and Department of Public Safety Communications, this budget provides an average increase of 7.83%, with a range of 5.44% to 10.44%.

The FY 2024 Budget makes key investments in our community’s priorities. There are new investments in parks, libraries, the arts, the environment, equity between boys’ and girls’ sports, affordable housing, domestic violence response and more.

We have been investing $175 million in affordable housing development, programs and services from multiple funding sources. Local dollars account for less than 10% of our recent major projects, which means $1.186 billion is being invested in Fairfax County to preserve or produce nearly 3000 affordable homes, throughout the County.

We are continuing to address our mental health crisis through the FY 2024 Budget. The amount for Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), which provides treatment for mental health issues, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders, is $213.7 million. Of that total, the County’s investment accounts for almost 83% of the total CSB budget. I am encouraged by the General Assembly’s and the Governor’s renewed focus on treating mental health, especially youth mental health, and am hopeful that focus will lead to new investments when the General Assembly finishes work on the state budget.

Finally, this budget provides good fiscal stewardship by paying (not deferring) our bills and critical investments. We continue to abide by our Ten Principles of Sound Financial Management. We have retained our AAA bond ratings from all three major rating agencies. We see previous investments in our business community, like the $110 million in pandemic relief grants, pay off with the latest job numbers showing that for the first time, more people are working in Fairfax County now than before the pandemic. These are all essential as we recover from the pandemic and prepare for uncertain economic times ahead.

Item 1: Approved abandonment of Route 4117, as requested by VDOT. When North Kings Highway was realigned, Route 4117 became unnecessary and was removed from North Kings Highway to Huntington Avenue. The Route will be removed from the Virginia Highway System. The full item can be read here.

Item 2: Approved a revision to the Project Administration Agreement (PAA) for the funding of the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project. This revision will modify the current agreement to include funding for Phase I of the project with a total project estimate of approximately $259 million. The project is currently funded with $205 million in Northern Virginia Transportation Authority regional funds, $3.5 million in local funds, $4 million in Revenue Sharing funds, and $44.5 million in Regional Surface Transportation Program funds. The full item can be read here.

Military Spouse Appreciation Week, May 5-12, 2023 - Joint with Chairman Jeff McKay, Supervisors Penny Gross, Pat Herrit and Rodney Lusk

The freedoms that we as Americans enjoy can only be made possible by the efforts of the more than 2 million men and women who serve our nation as active-duty service members of the Armed Forces. Right here in Fairfax County on Fort Belvoir, there are approximately 4,420 active-duty service members and 2,246 military spouses. Proudly, Fairfax County is home to approximately 80,000 military veterans and their spouses.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a day set aside for us to pause and recognize military spouses who have the greatest impact on service members’ lives through their support and commitment to service. The average military spouse moves 8-12 times in the span of a 20-year military career, which often results in starting over in each new location and dealing with the struggles of meeting new people and feeling a sense of community where they live. Military Spouse Appreciation Day is recognized nationally on May 12 this year. However, on May 10, we are co-hosting our third Veteran and Military Spouse Career Fair with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority at the National Army Museum and virtually on May 11.

Directed the recognition of May 5 – 12, 2023 as Military Spouse Appreciation Week and the preparation of a proclamation to be signed by the sponsors of this board matter to be presented to Army Community Service at the Veteran and Military Spouse Career Fair on May 10, 2023.

40th Anniversary of Newington Forest Elementary School - Jointly with Supervisor Pat Herrity

Newington Forest Elementary School is celebrating 40 years of brilliant students, teachers and administrators. After opening in 1983, Newington Forest Elementary School has provided excellent education to our youngest students by creating a safe and inclusive space for all students to learn and grow.

To celebrate this milestone year, Newington Forest Elementary School is hosting a 40th Anniversary Picnic on Thursday, June 1, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The event invites all current and former students, parents and facility to join this joyous occasion.

Guidelines for Data Centers - Jointly with Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor Kathy Smith

Governor Youngkin has recently announced that $35 billion is being directed to develop data centers in Virginia. Data centers can be beneficial from a tax-base perspective and perhaps even a building repurposing perspective. Currently the County has 11 existing data centers and 5 in the pipeline. Some have gone in by-right and others have come through the zoning process. The region continues to receive requests for more data centers due to our unique location related to the internet’s fiber infrastructure.

Under our 1978 Zoning Ordinance, data centers were treated as telecommunications facilities and were allowed by special exception in residential districts and by right without any specific use restrictions in all commercial, industrial and planned districts if included in the approved development plan or PRC plan. The zMOD ordinance that we adopted in 2021, and that we are in the process of readopting after the Virginia Supreme Court declared the 2021 adoption to be void, eliminated the option for data centers to locate in residential districts, in most commercial districts, and in many P districts. zMOD also introduced new use-specific standards imposing size limits for data centers in newly proposed buildings in certain commercial and industrial districts and requiring that cooling, ventilating and other equipment be enclosed in most zoning districts.

Data Centers are an evolving industry that merits our continued attention. EQAC has requested that the Board look into potential environmental issues associated with data centers and the Planning Commission, based on feedback received during the zMOD readoption process, asked staff to review data centers further as part of the Zoning Ordinance Work Program.

Resolution to West Potomac High School Student Saira Nagda - Jointly with Chairman Jeff McKay

On April 26, The Washington Post reported on an outstanding high school senior athlete from West Potomac, Saira Nagda. Now a senior, Saira runs for the Varsity Cross Country & Track Teams and swam for the Varsity Swim and Dive team.

Off the field, Saira is the Founder and CEO of Replay It. A nonprofit dedicated to giving children the opportunity to participate in sports through donations of gently used sports gear. She, her family, and friends started this charity organization when she was a freshman in high school. Replay It has donated more than 2,500 pieces of sport equipment.

Saira believes that she has been fortunate to have a family who can support the fees and equipment one needs to play sports. However, she knows many girls are not able to have the opportunities she has. In Saira’s words “Seeing the impact firsthand is when I really saw that I was having a part of these incredible girls’ journeys.”

I moved that the Board approve the withdrawal of the public hearing to consider the creation of a Community Development Authority for Huntington Central from the Board's agenda. After authorizing the advertisement of the public hearing, I received notice from Huntington Club that it does not intend to move forward with redevelopment of its property at this time.

On March 23, 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia issued an opinion in Berry v. Board of Supervisors (Record No. 211143) reversing the Fairfax County Circuit Court and finding the County’s 2021 Zoning Ordinance, adopted in March 2021 and commonly referred to as zMOD, void ab initio. The Board indisputably met all the legislation’s requirements regarding public notice, access and comment for an electronic meeting. But the Supreme Court interpreted the legislation narrowly to exclude consideration and adoption of zMOD.

The Board readopted zMOD with amendments including:

June 21: SE-2021-MV-00032 Karlyn Davis d/b/a Karlyn’s Little Blessings

May 17: SP-2022-MV-00107 Bill Waller, 5651 Kathryn St., Alexandria. Reduction in setback requirements based on errors in building location to permit an accessory structure (detached garage) 4.4 feet from the rear lot line and 4.9 feet from the southwest side lot line to remain and to permit an increase in fence height in the front yard.

May 24: SP-2021-MV-00114 and VC-2021-MV-00018 Gennaro Rucci III, 4204 Laurel Rd., Alexandria. SP: Increase in fence height in the front yard adjacent to Laurel Road, Increase in the percentage of coverage permitted in the minimum required rear yard, and a reduction of setback requirements based on errors in building location to permit one accessory structure (pavilion) to remain 3.5 feet from the rear lot lie and a second accessory structure (detached garage) to remain 4.1 feet from the rear lot line. VC: To allow an accessory structure (detached garage) to remain in the front yard adjacent to Laurel Road on a lot less than 36,000 square feet in area.

June 7: SP-2022-MV-00013 David and Kathleen Pascoe, 9403 Ludgate Dr., Alexandria.

Reduction of setback requirements to permit an addition 19.7 feet from the rear lot line and an open deck 11.5 feet from the rear lot line.

Early in-person voting for the June 20 Democratic Primary is now at our Mount Vernon Governmental Center (2511 Parkers Lane) on weekdays from 1 – 7 p.m. In June additional sites will open for two Saturdays and election day. See you at the polls! Primary candidates for these offices and districts will be on the ballot:

Have you almost been hit by a driver when walking or cycling? Do you know of a dangerous location that needs a crosswalk, signal, sidewalk, or other safety improvements? Use the Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) Near Miss / Dangerous Location Survey and report what happened, where it happened, and when it happened. Learn more.

Metro is continuing its work to build a better bus network for you. Metro’s Better Bus Network Redesign team invites you to 50 events in 50 days! Metro heard last fall that reliable service and shorter wait times were customers’ highest priorities for improving service. Metro used that feedback to create a draft new bus network — a vision for faster, more frequent and reliable bus service for our region. Your input on this visionary bus network will be used to develop the final product!

Metro is offering many ways to share your input. Participate in Better Bus Experience Live! at one of 50 events in 50 days from April through June! Or visit the Better Bus Experience Lab to explore maps and routes, play with a new trip planner and share your input in fun, interactive ways. For more information and to participate in either Experience Lab or Experience Live!

Get your garden in shape with these helpful tips!

Share your thoughts on resource needs to address the opioid epidemic in Northern Virginia. As Northern Virginia explores possible regional projects to be funded with opioid settlement dollars, The Northern Virginia Opioid Response Network and DBHDS Region 2 Community Service Boards are seeking input on potential uses of opioid settlement funds. Let your voice be heard. Take the survey by Friday, May 12.

National Foster Care Month is an important time to raise awareness of issues related to foster care and to recognize the important role that members from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth and their biological families. The Department of Family Services would especially like to celebrate our dedicated foster parents. This year, the national Children’s Bureau collaborated with parents, guardians and young people with lived experience to develop its focus for the month on mental well-being. As a result, this year's theme is "Strengthening Minds, Uplifting Families." Learn more.

Each year, the Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the best examples of leadership and service to protect and enhance the natural world. The awards celebrate accomplishments by individual County residents, organizations, businesses and County employees who advance or support the County’s environmental goals and policies, dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities, and demonstrate leadership, acting as role models for others. The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council on behalf of the Board of Supervisors with support from OEEC.