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Dear Neighbor,
I extend my warmest wishes to those observing Ramadan! I hope this holiday brings you peace, connection, and prosperity.
Budget Town Hall Recap
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Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and tuned in to our Braddock District Budget Town Hall this week!
County Executive Bryan Hill, Braddock District School Board Member Rachna Sizemore Heizer, and I had the opportunity to address questions on taxes, County programs, teacher pay, and more.
You can read the Advertised Budget Plan, review the Budget process timeline, or watch the town hall on Channel 16's website.
This year's budget process takes place against the backdrop of the landmark state study which revealed that the Commonwealth of Virginia is underfunding public schools by $3.5 billion. Just bringing state funding for schools to the national average would mean an additional $345 million per year in funding for Fairfax County Public Schools.
Local taxpayers and Fairfax County provide nearly 70% of FCPS's budget and a higher percentage of our total general fund to school operating funds than any jurisdiction in Northern Virginia. Fairfax County more than fully funds the local share of providing the high-quality schools our community deserves, but despite some progress and the efforts of our Fairfax County General Assembly Delegation, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not.
The Board will host Budget Public Hearings from April 16-18 at the Government Center. We want to hear from residents and encourage you to sign up to speak in person, by video, or by phone at one of these meetings.
There are several ways for residents to offer feedback on the Budget:
Flood Awareness Week
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March 10-16 is Flood Awareness Week in Fairfax County.
As climate change sets in, flooding has become one of the most common threats to residents in the County. Flooding is also the costliest natural disaster, and only 3% of Virginians have flood insurance.
Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. We all need to be prepared, especially as the weather becomes wetter and storms become more intense. There are resources to help you prepare:
Preparedness/Readiness
Read more
Luck of the Irish
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If you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day this weekend, do not rely on the luck of the Irish when it comes to drinking and driving. Make plans before you head out to get you home safely and soberly.
Ordering a ride from a cab company or rideshare app may seem like it costs you a pot of gold, but it could save lives or hefty legal fees.
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program's (WRAP) SoberRide is partnering with Lyft to provide free and discounted rides beginning 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, until 12:00 a.m. on March 18.
Visit SoberRide's website for more information and your ride discount code.
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Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw | |
Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates. | |
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Continue reading below for more information on:
- FCPS Conversation on Opioids
- Diva Central Dress Giveaway
- FCDOT Bicycle Parking Meeting
- Gains, Gaps & Goals
- Upcoming Braddock District Council Meeting
- Work at the Fairfax County Health Department
- Menstrual Supplies Drive
- Comment on Visualize 2050
- Fairfax CORE has Launched!
- Clean Fairfax March Updates
- NVSWCD College Scholarships
- Tax Season Resources
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FCPS Conversation on Opioids | |
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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) invites you to a community conversation focused on addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools. The discussion during this event will center on providing families and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. Together, as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and sometimes fatal substances.
The conversation will be on Monday, March 18, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke). Read more or sign up here.
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Diva Central Dress Giveaway | |
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The Reston Community Center is hosting their annual 'Diva Central' prom and formal dress giveaway boutique event on Saturday, March 16, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center (1609-A Washington Plaza N, Reston).
This incredible one-day shopping opportunity is open to any current middle or high school student who needs a formal dress, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. Everything is FREE. Patrons are limited to two dresses, one set of accessories, and one pair of shoes. Registration is required.
For more information, email LaTanja Snelling.
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FCDOT Bicycle Parking Meeting | |
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The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a virtual meeting on the updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines on Tuesday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m.
FCDOT staff will present information on the updated guidance, answer questions and welcome feedback from attendees.
Lack of secure bicycle parking at home and at daily destinations is a common barrier to bicycling as a convenient, healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly way to travel. FCDOT believes adequate bicycle parking should be available at residences, places of employment, schools and other destinations, as well as wherever car parking is provided.
While the recently amended Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance (6102. Bicycle Parking Requirements) sets a minimum bike parking rate, the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan project is updating the 2017 Bicycle Parking Guidelines, which is a supplemental document to determine the desirable rate of short-term to long-term bike parking spaces, acceptable rack and facility design and location guidance, and optional enhancements to improve user comfort. The updated document will ensure the Bicycle Parking Guidelines are following the amended Zoning Ordinance and include current best practices.
Virtual Meeting Login Information:
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Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams
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Join on the web (Meeting ID: 239 217 432 186; Passcode: 9XzRNu)
- Call into the meeting: 571-429-5982; Conference ID: 565 443 221#
Feedback and public comments will be accepted through April 2, online or by calling (703) 890-5898, Project Code 6997.
Learn more about Fairfax County's Bicycle Parking Guidelines.
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Join the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) for "Gains, Gaps & Goals: The Status of Women and Girls in Fairfax County," a presentation from the University of Virginia on the status of women and girl in Fairfax County on Friday, March 22, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax).
The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion, audience Q&A, and networking with light refreshments after the event. The event will also be live-streamed on Channel 16. Learn more about the event on DFS' website.
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Upcoming Braddock
District Council Meeting
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The Braddock District Council's (BDC) next meeting is Tuesday, March 26, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke).
This month's meeting will feature a speaker from the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) discussing energy-saving programs for homeowners and communities.
For more details or the meeting agenda, check out the BDC website.
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Work at the Fairfax County
Health Department
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The Braddock District Office has joined Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik in supporting a Countywide Menstrual Supplies Drive between now and March 29.
The Braddock District Office is serving as a collection site for unopened cups, liners, pads, and tampons to donate to the Annandale United Methodist Church’s Mission Center.
You can drop off these items in the boxes (photo on right) outside of the door to the Braddock District Office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke). You can drop off supplies Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or enter through the Kings Park Library side on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
More information (including additional donation sites) is available on Supervisor Palchik's page.
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Comment on Visualize 2050 | |
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The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is seeking public feedback through March 30 on the Visualize 2050 National Capital Region Transportation Plan before the TPB conducts an Air Quality Conformity Analysis of proposed, regionally significant roadway and transit projects, the next step in the planning process.
All major transportation projects must be in the TPB plan to receive federal funding and approvals, from the planned I-495 interchange improvements near the proposed new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the expansion of bus lanes along Georgia Avenue in the District of Columbia and the US Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit project in Fairfax County, Virginia.
For the first time, the TPB is adopting a "zero-based budgeting" approach for this plan update. Under this strategy, previously approved projects were required to be resubmitted by their respective jurisdictions, excluding those already significantly underway.
Learn more about the plan and access the public comment form/maps.
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Fairfax CORE has Launched! | |
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Fairfax County proudly introduces Fairfax CORE (Connecting Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs), a groundbreaking online platform designed to empower business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Fairfax County, including the towns of Clifton and Vienna, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.
This new web-based platform connects business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to establish, expand, and evolve their businesses.
Fairfax CORE features an online navigator providing access to more than 115 entrepreneur support organizations in and around Fairfax County. This tool offers entrepreneurs quick and easy access to a searchable resource database that connects them to the right experts at the right time. The website can be translated into 58 languages, and many of the resource partners are focused on supporting diverse communities.
Whether filtering resources based on type of assistance, industry, or stage of business, entrepreneurs can connect to the correct resources to support their journey. Additionally, Fairfax CORE includes comprehensive business guides providing useful information for entrepreneurs and a robust events calendar promoting low and no-cost education and networking events.
Visit Fairfax CORE's website today!
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Clean Fairfax March Update | |
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March is here, and that means the first day of spring is right around the corner!
This is the perfect time of year to get outside and organize or participate in a community cleanup. Now is a great time to check out Clean Fairfax’s Community Cleanup Program! Clean Fairfax will send free supplies to support your event, such as gloves, trash bags, and safety vests. No event is too small: make it a family cleanup; a thing you do with a few neighbors; or invite a club to which you belong to get outside for a morning or afternoon of service. Everything helps. Order your free supplies today!
Clean Fairfax is excited to share their Earth Month+ 2024 page, which includes the Clean Fairfax Earth Month+ Calendar. Find the many community cleanups, Earth Day events, and other environmental happenings that are going on around Fairfax County this spring. You can also find links to Earth Month+ resources and get connected with meaningful environmental efforts.
You can follow Clean Fairfax on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay in the know.
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NVSWCD College Scholarships | |
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The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) is currently accepting college scholarship applications up until April 1.
Fairfax County high school seniors or college freshmen are eligible to receive a $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship from NVSWCD. This scholarship supports students studying in the field of natural resource conservation and is focused on investing in the talented youth of Fairfax County.
NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships.
If you need an application sent tvia U.S. mail or in an alternative format, email NVSWCD or call (703) 324-1460 | TTY 711.
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Tax Relief Workshop
Staff from the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) are holding Tax Relief Workshops through March and April to assist with filling out the 2024 tax relief application form, as well as answer questions.
The Braddock District Tax Relief Workshop will be held at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke) on Tuesday, March 26 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
To ensure DTA is assisting individuals promptly, workshops will utilize appointment scheduling. To request an appointment, call (703) 324-3747 or email TaxRelief@fairfaxcounty.gov.
For more information, or to view other workshop dates and locations, visit DTA's website.
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Real Estate Assessments
2024 real estate assessments are available. Homeowners should have received a copy in the mail, or you can find your assessment online. The Department of Tax Administration has developed a useful tool for residents to see how their neighborhoods’ home values have changed from last year to this year. Click here to view the map.
It's important to note that Virginia law requires homes to be assessed at fair market value, which is not set by the Board. On average, due to higher mortgage rates and slower sales, assessments went up countywide by just 2.86%; in the Braddock District, the average increase was 2.52%. By comparison, one year ago the increases were 6.97% and 7.04%, respectively.
If you'd like to learn more about how the assessments are calculated, you can visit the Department of Tax Administration (DTA)'s page.
If you believe that your real estate is incorrectly assessed, you can file an appeal through DTA.
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Free Tax Preparation Help Available until April 15
Tax season is officially underway — and so too is free tax preparation assistance by the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program.
Fairfax County is partnering with the nonprofit to provide eight county facilities where residents can get no-cost help filling out their federal and state taxes through April 15.
Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year, according to AARP. At every location, volunteers can help you prepare your federal and Virginia state tax returns, and some locations can also assist you with District of Columbia and Maryland taxes. Find a Tax Aide near you.
Tax aides can help you with most — but not all — tax returns, including returns with:
- Wages, interest, dividends, capital gains or losses, pensions and Social Security benefits
- Self-employment income with limits
- Qualified business income deduction with limits
- 1099 income
- IRA contributions
- Health savings accounts
However, volunteers can’t help with complicated tax returns that involve a small business with employees, rental income or alternative minimum tax.
Before you visit an assistance location, check what kinds of tax returns the program can and can’t prepare.
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Do Taxes Yourself
If you want to do your taxes yourself, the federal and state governments offer free online tax preparation and filing for people within certain income limits.
Learn more:
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