In this Issue…
Springfield Older Adults Raise Unaffordability at SHAPE Focus Group – Recently I hosted the Springfield SHAPE the Future of Aging Focus Group to hear from residents what they see as the needs and challenges of older adults living in Fairfax County as well as recommended solutions. As Chairman of the Board's Older Adults Committee, I have been working with County staff on a follow-on plan to the award-winning 50+ Community Action Plan. Like the 50+ Community Action Plan, our goal is that the SHAPE plan would be actionable, affordable, and achievable with community-driven solutions. The Springfield SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan Focus Group had over 40 participants, many of whom shared that the number one issue facing older adults in the County is unaffordable taxes. Below, I’ll share more details about issues the focus group raised, what services the County offers for older adults, and what’s next for the SHAPE plan.
Tax Outlook Not Good News – Last week the Board of Supervisors and School Board got their first look at next year’s budget. While the projections are very preliminary, they included a real estate tax increase of over 5% for the average homeowner and still showed a combined budget shortfall of $125 million (roughly another 4% increase if costs are not reduced). The challenges are many. I have highlighted a few below.
I-66 Update – The entire 22.5-mile section of the I-66 Express lanes from I-495 to Gainesville is now open. The I-66 express lanes will provide residents with new transportation choices - pay a toll for a faster trip, carpool for a faster free trip, ride mass transit with a guaranteed travel time, or ride in the regular lanes for free with a quicker commute due to the additional capacity from the toll lanes. I am proud to have played an early role in getting this project restarted and along the way during construction. A cautionary note in that these toll lanes operate differently than I-495 and currently can be tricky to use – there are no signs giving you tolls for the entire length, exit ramps to general purpose lanes are not well marked before you commit to additional tolls, tolls are cumulative for each section like I- 95 and there is no online app yet giving you the tolls for each segment like Transurban has. Please see more below.
Other News and Information
- Burke Lake Water Level and Marina
- Transition to PetData for Dog Licensing
-
Fairfax Water Public Hearing (Dec 15th)
-
2023 Live Healthy Fairfax Awards Nomination Deadline (Dec 15th)
-
Holiday Drives (Dec 10th & Dec 16th)
|
Springfield Older Adults Raise Unaffordability at SHAPE Focus Group
Recently I hosted the Springfield SHAPE the Future of Aging Focus Group to hear from residents what they see as the needs and challenges of older adults living in Fairfax County as well as recommended solutions. As Chairman of the Board's Older Adults Committee, I have been working with County staff on a follow-on plan to the award-winning 50+ Community Action Plan. Like the 50+ Community Action Plan, our goal is that the SHAPE plan would be actionable, affordable, and achievable with community-driven solutions. The Springfield SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan Focus Group had over 40 participants, many of whom shared that the number one issue facing older adults in the County is unaffordable taxes. Here were some of the statements I heard from participants:
“My taxes went up 20 percent, how can I sustain that?”
“There are no tax breaks based on age, only assets.”
“When I looked at downsizing [in the county], I realized it’s not an option… It’s more expensive monthly.”
Many of our older adults bought their homes back when their mortgage was only four or five times what their yearly property taxes are today. Despite having paid off their mortgage, they can’t afford to live in their own home on a fixed income because of cost-of-living increases and property tax increases. The Fairfax County Community Assessment Survey (CASOA) from June revealed:
- 92 percent of surveyed participants said Fairfax County is an excellent or good place to live, but only 53 percent believe it is a good place to retire.
-
Only 16 percent of participants rated the cost of living here as good, ranking Fairfax County at 258th out of 279 comparable communities for older adults’ cost of living.
- Fairfax County ranked dead last out of 84 comparable communities when it came to likelihood of remaining in your community throughout retirement.
I have been highlighting the unaffordability of Fairfax County for our older adults for years, but despite our successes passing senior tax relief, clearly much more is needed.
Information on Older Adults Services
Another issue raised by residents who attended the Springfield SHAPE focus group included the need for better communication by the County about what services are available for older adults. Many of the focus group participants were unaware of the services the County offers for older adults. Some residents suggested posting more information for older adult services at recreation centers, libraries, and in mailings.
If you are interested in learning more about the many services the County provides for older adults, you can find those listed at the bottom of the County webpage here. Additionally, the County can provide a speaker or information table for your next community event to provide an overview of older adult services in these five categories: Overview of Aging Services, Adult Protective Services, Caregiver Issues and Resources, and Choosing a Nursing Home. You can find information about how to request a speaker or information table here.
The County also has a telephone number available specifically for seniors – 703-324-7948. These services are available from a range of federal, state county and non-profit providers and include adult protective services, caregiver support (education, respite, etc.), disability resources, delivered meals, in-home care, case management, Medicare counseling, and other support services. The County also publishes a newsletter directed to seniors – the Golden Gazette. You can subscribe here for either an electronic edition or a call 703-324-GOLD (4653) for a print edition.
Other Issues/Ideas Raised – Some of the other issues raised and ideas shared at the SHAPE meeting included:
-
Aging in Place – addressing the various needs of seniors that want to stay in their residences – from the cost of taxes to the need for assistance with maintenance. One idea was a County reviewed/approved list of vendors.
-
The Need for a Senior Center in West Springfield/Burke Area – While there are a number of senior centers in and around the area (Annandale, Lorton, the Mott Center) there is not one in the West Springfield/Burke area. There is a Senior Center for Springfield District in the County’s Capital Improvement Plan and I have been advancing it. In the meantime, I have been working with staff to identify an interim location for a senior center and have reviewed and visited many potential sites. While several have fallen through, we believe we have identified a location that will meet the need and the lease is in negotiation. I hope to have more information on the location to share with you soon. This will be a temporary center until the permanent one is constructed.
-
Free/Reduced Admission to Seniors for FCPS events – Providing older adults with free or reduced admission to FCPS sports, theater and arts events would help improve the attendance at these events as well as promote intergenerational bonds.
-
Transportation Needs – There was discussion of the various transportation needs of seniors and the various volunteer and non-profit resources available. I reiterated my desire for the county to look at ride share services to make our transportation dollars go further. The seniors in attendance indicated they were comfortable using ride share services.
If you didn’t have a chance to participate in the focus group, you can still submit feedback on what you see as the challenges and solutions for older adults in our community. Please share your thoughts by emailing my office at springfieldbos@fairfaxcounty.gov or by calling at 703-451-8873. Soon our consultants will be working to consolidate all feedback into a draft plan. I plan to have an update for you on the progress of SHAPE early next year. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing your feedback as I continue to raise solutions that help our older adults age in place.
Tax Outlook Not Good News
Last week the Board of Supervisors and School Board got their first look at next year’s budget. While the projections are very preliminary, they included a real estate tax increase of over 5% for the average homeowner and still showed a combined budget shortfall of $125 million (roughly another 4% increase if costs are not reduced). The actual impact will not be decided until we get through the budget process early next year. Below are just some of the challenges:
- On the revenue side, the commercial office buildings are down about 6% - this is shifting more of the tax burden to the residential tax base and our homeowners.
- On the cost side we are feeling the impact of supply chain shortages, inflation, fuel prices, and the general economy.
- The multiple rounds of stimulus funds are coming to an end – some of which this Board spent on recurring expenses instead of limiting them to one-time expenditures. Many of these are now getting added to the base budget.
-
The funding of recurring expenditures out of out of one time Carryover Funding for Board “priorities,” going against long standing Board policy. These are also being added to the base budget.
- The need to address our staffing shortages and salaries in critical areas like public safety, mental health, and education.
Some of these challenges are self-inflicted and some the results of the Board’s actions. What is most disappointing is that the Board continues to refuse my request to establish a Task Force to look at expenditures like previous Boards. Prior to Fiscal Year 2000, there were several commissions and task forces formed to address County revenues and expenditures, emphasizing efficiency and fiscal restraint. From the Cole Commission under Chairman Tom Davis to the Task Force on Revenues and Expenditures under Chairman Kate Hanley. More recently we have had the Line of Business Reviews under Chairman Sharon Bulova. These provided a forum for citizens of diverse backgrounds with fiscal expertise to review the County’s revenue and expenditures, sharing feedback to the Board year-round outside of the annual budget process. More on the budget here.
Despite receiving over $1 billion in federal aid between the County and FCPS since the start of the pandemic, we are looking at a shortfall for next year's budget. Between now and when our budget process starts early next year, I will continue to advocate that the Board reign in spending, address critical service issues, and look for ways to reduce the tax rate. During this period of inflation, high fuel prices and a struggling economy, we should be looking to reduce the tax burden on our residents. As always, I welcome your thoughts on the budget and encourage you to share them with other members of the Board as well.
I-66 Update
The entire 22.5-mile section of the I-66 Express lanes from I-495 to Gainesville is now open. The I-66 express lanes will provide residents with new transportation choices - pay a toll for a faster trip, carpool for a faster free trip, ride mass transit with a guaranteed travel time, or ride in the regular lanes for free with a quicker commute due to the additional capacity from the toll lanes. I am proud to have played an early role in getting this project restarted and along the way during construction. A cautionary note in that these toll lanes operate differently than I-495 and currently can be tricky to use. There are no signs giving you toll costs for the entire length, the exit ramps to general purpose lanes are not well marked before you commit to additional tolls, and the tolls are cumulative for each section like I- 95. While VDOT tells me one is in the works, there is currently no online app yet available that provides real-time information on the toll cost for each segment as currently available for the other toll roads in the area.
When I first joined the Board in 2008, I unveiled short- and long-term plans for improving congestion in the I-66 corridor including:
- extended use of the shoulder lanes during periods of congestion including on weekends,
- non-HOV use of the ramps at Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road,
-
restarting the Environmental Impact Study for I-66, a precursor to the Public-Private Partnership that built the Express Lanes. may_2008_i66_parkway.pdf (fairfaxcounty.gov)
- BRT/Express Bus in the I-66 corridor
The first two short term measures improved the corridor and access to and from I-66 for years while the long-term fixes were in process. The work is not done but the I-66 Express lanes should provide an improved commute and congestion reduction along the corridor and just as important, congestion reduction on parallel secondary roads. I have been working with and am committed to continue to work with VDOT and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to further investigate solutions in this important corridor including:
- better signage and education on the current express lanes operation and transparency of toll rates for the entire corridor like they have on I-95,
- establishment of slugging lines like the I-95 corridor so more residents can take advantage of the Express Lanes,
- BRT/Express bus routes in the corridor to move more people in the Express Lanes and reduce congestion in the regular lanes.
I extend my congratulations to VDOT and the Megaprojects team for partially opening the project two months early and having the entire system open a month ahead of schedule. This is impressive, especially for a project of this magnitude.
Please let me know if you have any thoughts.
|
Other News and Information
Burke Lake Water Level and Marina
If you’ve visited Burke Lake recently, you may have noticed that the water level in the lake is lower than usual. To control erosion and improve the launch, ramp and marina area, the Fairfax County Park Authority and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources have drained two feet off of the lake and closed the marina area through approximately April 2023.
This is just some of the exciting maintenance work being done at the County’s most-visited park to improve the experience of our residents.
Transition to PetData for Dog Licensing
Fairfax County is partnering with PetData for dog licensing services. PetData will handle everything from mailing renewal notices, answering phone calls, processing payments from dog owners to online dog licensing. Their online system allows owners to register their dog or renew its license from home, without having to wait in line. This option will especially benefit the elderly and those with limited mobility and residents who lack transportation. PetData then mails licenses directly to dog owners. Previously, first time dog licensing was an in-person only process.
If you prefer not to use this vendor, in person licensing will still be available at DTA’s cashiering counter and at the Animal Shelter.
|
Fairfax Water Public Hearing on December 15th
At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2022, Fairfax Water will conduct a public hearing on its Proposed Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges. The hearing will be held in Fairfax Water’s office located at 8570 Executive Park Avenue, Fairfax, VA.
For additional information:
-
Click here to view the Proposed Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges.
-
Click here to view the Proposed Budget.
-
Click here to view the Public Hearing Notice.
|
2023 Live Healthy Fairfax Awards Nomination Deadline is December 15th
The Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax is seeking nominations for its 2023 Live Healthy Fairfax Award. This award recognizes individuals, businesses, government, and organizations – both public and private – that have demonstrated exemplary supportive leadership and action to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and populations in the Fairfax Community.
- Behavioral Health
- Healthy Eating
- Healthy Environment and Active Living
The Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax is seeking a wide range of nominations. Examples include individuals who volunteer to lead major initiatives, businesses that provide employees and customers with health-related opportunities or agencies that implement support for making healthy choices. Also celebrated are examples that impact the health of the larger community and are considered sustainable ideas.
Details about the Awards program and nomination requirements can be found on the Live Healthy Fairfax Awards page. The deadline for nominations is December 15, 2022.
Holiday Donation Drives to Support Children on December 10th and December 16th
Holiday Toy and Food Drive with West Springfield Police Department
Officers from the West Springfield District Police Station will be hosting a toy and food drive.
They are asking for *NEW* unwrapped toys to be donated. These toys will be sent to the Motor Squad for their Santa’s Ride event. The Motors Squad will be delivering these toys to kids at the Inova Children’s Hospital and the Georgetown Hospital Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The food will benefit ECHO. ECHO is the Ecumenical Community Helping others. It is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) charity that provides food and financial help to people with short term emergencies. ECHO also provides clothes and household items to people with low incomes.
Items that are requested are in order of priority: can vegetables, can soup, spaghetti sauce, pasta, jelly, vegetable oil, muffin mix, Jello/pudding mix, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix, can tomatoes, box rice, peanut butter, eggs, margarine, bread, condiments, can meat, tortillas, salsa, BBQ sauce, juice (both individual and family size), tea and coffee. "Family Sized" items only please. Extra-large items (25lb bags of flour, 5-6 lb single cans of anything) are too large for distribution to ECHO client families, which have four people on average.
Please stop by and donate. Officers and community volunteers will be located just outside the Giant on Old Keene Mill Road to assist you.
|
Gift Card Drive through December 16th with the Victim Services Division
In 2022, the Victim Services Division worked over 350 cases involving child victims and witnesses of domestic & sexual violence as well as children who lost a loved one to homicide. Many of these children will not get to celebrate holidays this year due to the financial burden that comes with being a victim of crime. In the true spirit of the season, the victim services division asks you to please join us in brightening the holidays for our courageous children by participating in this drive.
Now through Friday, December 16, 2022, they are seeking gift cards for child victims (both young and teenagers) to places like Giant, Amazon, Safeway, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl’s, local restaurants, and clothing stores. Gift cards will allow parents/guardians to be active participants in purchasing gifts for each child and practical needed items that they would normally go without.
You can drop off gift cards to the Victim Services Division at 12099 Government Center Pkwy. Please email saly.fayez@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-246-2465 if you have any questions.
|
|
Email
Office
(703) 451-8873
Website
|
Reba is a bundle of energy ready to go, go, GO! She has a zest for life that can only be quenched by fun and adventure. She greets all of her new best friends with sniffs, licks, and hugs and thinks that she is the perfect size to fit in your lap. She enjoys getting attention from her new besties and is very easy to engage in play. If you would like to meet Reba, click here to arrange a visit.
|
|
