Dear Neighbor,

Happy first week of school to all FCPS students, teachers, staff, faculty, and families! Whether this year is your first, last, or somewhere in between, I hope it is a successful one.

COVID Variant

Recently, an emerging COVID-19 variant, EG.5, has caused a bump in cases in our region. EG.5 accounted for about 17% of nationwide COVID cases last week. While there is nothing to point to this variant further intensifying COVID cases, I encourage you to be informed and stay up to date on the latest information about COVID from the County Health Department's website.

Following the end of the public health emergency declaration in May 2023, the Health Department's COVID dashboard has transitioned into tracking the severity of the disease upon hospitalization. You can read more about the specifics of the changes in data reporting.

COVID tests are still available, find a location near you on the Virginia Department of Health's website.

Car Taxes

By now, you have likely received your vehicle tax assessment and bill for any vehicles you own that are garaged or parked in Fairfax County.

As with real estate, Virginia law requires that Fairfax County assess personal property (i.e. vehicles) based on its fair market value. Fairfax County’s personal property tax rate has been unchanged since 1988. 

Vehicle values dropped 9.8% on average this year (compared to 2022 when 90% of vehicles' value increased). Although 97% have declined or stayed the same this year, average values are still higher than they were before the pandemic.

In the 1990's, former Governor Jim Gilmore’s campaign promise to eliminate the car tax led to the institution of a state subsidy called the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) of 1998. The purpose of this subsidy was for the state to reimburse localities for the revenue loss they would experience when foregoing a car tax. But in later years the PPTRA was capped at a fixed dollar amount, covering less and less each year as the value and quantity of vehicles increased. As time goes on, local governments and taxpayers shoulder more and more of the burden to finance the car tax relief campaign promise.

To mitigate some of the increases in vehicle tax assessments, for a second consecutive year, the Board of Supervisors applied an assessment ratio towards this year’s property tax. This year's ratio is 90% - cutting car tax bills by more than 18% on average. Because relief is already applied, you will not see a separate line on your bill that shows the reduction.

To get a better understanding of the vehicle tax and what options may be available to you for relief, I encourage you to review the Department of Tax Administration (DTA)’s FAQ page. If you believe your assessment is inaccurate, there is an appeal process.

Lake Accotink Community Day

The Annual Community Day Celebration at Lake Accotink Park is this Saturday, August 26, from 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield.

The Annual Community Day Celebration will be the 61st Anniversary of Lake Accotink Park being open. The free event will feature classes, demonstrations, guided experiences, and much more. More information is on the Park Authority's website.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

Please share the newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news & updates.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• "Clear the Shelters" Pet Adoption Event
• Public Safety Day
• Cox Innovation Lab Opening in Annandale
• Regular Library Hours Resume 8/28
• FCPA Hosts Dog Daze
• King Arthur Road Bridge Repairs
• Jury Questionnaire
• Prepare for Kindergarten with FCPS
• GMU in the Community

"Clear the Shelters" Pet Adoption Event

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) is hosting a "Clear the Shelters" fee-waived pet adoption event tomorrow, Friday, August 25, and Saturday, August 26.

The shelter is currently home to 300+ pets and is over capacity for small animals (rabbits & guinea pigs), and nearing capacity for cats and dogs; requests to surrender pets aren’t slowing down either.

FCAS is open Tuesday through Sunday, their hours of operation are:

• Tuesday/Wednesday 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday/Friday 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday/Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For more information about the Clear the Shelter event, adoption process, or to see pets available for adoption, visit FCAS' website.

Public Safety Day

This Saturday, August 26, is Public Safety Day! The Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications and their public safety partners are hosting a free open house at the Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center (4890 Alliance Drive, Fairfax) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

There will be displays from Fairfax County 9-1-1, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Fairfax County Police Department - including Animal Protection Police, Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, Department of Emergency Management and Security, and Virginia Department of Transportation. There will be fun and games for families and all attendees. Parking is free. Register to attend.

Cox Innovation Lab

Opening in Annandale

The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington will hold a ribbon cutting for the new Cox Innovation Lab at the Annandale Community Center on Tuesday, August 29, at 4:00 p.m.

The event will feature an appearance by Malcom Mitchell, a Super Bowl champion (New England Patriots), author and founder/CEO of Share the Magic Foundation, which is focused on unlocking the potential of young lives through literacy.

The ribbon cutting is part of Annandale Community Day, a free event from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. with food trucks, family activities, and more.

Regular Library Hours

Resume Next Week

Fairfax County Public Libraries will resume normal hours beginning Monday, August 28.

Braddock District Community Libraries (Kings Park and Burke Centre):

• Monday - Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Wednesday - Saturday | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Regional Libraries:

• Monday - Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Thursday - Sunday | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

FCPA Hosts Dog Daze

Does your dog need a pool day? Bring them to Dog Daze hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority on Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Water Mine at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston).

The cost is $10 per dog and benefits the Fairfax County Park Foundation. Read more or register now.

King Arthur Road Bridge Repairs

The Virginia Department of Transportation is providing a virtual public involvement opportunity on plans to rehabilitate the King Arthur Road (Route 3679) bridge over Accotink Creek to improve safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and extend the overall life of the bridge.

The bridge, which averages 1,800 vehicles a day, was built in 1964, its beams repainted in 1975 and its deck resurfaced in 1994.

The King Arthur Road over Accotink Creek Bridge Rehabilitation project includes:

• Replacing the entire bridge deck slab and all supporting steel beams and bearings
• Widening the bridge sidewalk
• Replacing pier caps and tops of columns
• Repairing exposed concrete of pier columns and abutments

In lieu of an in-person meeting, VDOT invites residents and travelers to learn more, watch the virtual presentation (PDF presentations are also available in English and Spanish) and give feedback in the following ways through Sept. 5:  

• Provide comments via the online survey 
• Email comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov
• Mail comments to

Mr. Shahrad Behboodi, P.E.

Virginia Department of Transportation

4975 Alliance Drive

Fairfax, VA 22030

Jury Questionnaire

You may be one of approximately 74,000 Fairfax County or City of Fairfax residents receiving a jury duty questionnaire in the mail soon.

Just because you received a questionnaire does not mean you will be summoned for jury duty. Potential jurors are randomly selected from voter registration lists to represent a cross section of the community. The questionnaire is the beginning of a screening process to determine who is qualified to serve. You can mail the questionnaire back or, preferably, fill it out online.

If you qualify for the jury pool, you will receive a summons for jury duty by mail approximately one month before your reporting date. Keep in mind that this is an official court summons and if you do not respond, you could be found in contempt of court.

You can find more information about the Jury Questionnaire on the County's website.

Prepare for Kindergarten with FCPS

Fairfax County Public Schools is hosting a program for parents of preschoolers to prepare children for kindergarten. Supplies, book, and curriculum activity packets are free, and available in English and Spanish.

For more information or to enroll, contact Elisabeth Bruzon at (703) 204-4350 or embruzon@fcps.edu or contact Sara Parada at (703) 204-4307 or spparadacamp@fcps.edu

GMU in the Community

The SOAR Initiative Grand Launch

You're invited to join the celebration of GMU's School of Business' new SOAR Initiative and RISE Program on Saturday, September 9, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

SOAR is a unique program that focuses on entrepreneurship for the under-represented and includes three programs to support aspiring entrepreneurs who face longstanding structural inequities in access to social and financial resources. The first of these programs, RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship), will focus on refugees and immigrants.

Over the span of 11 months each year, SOAR will provide a holistic model in small business development for individuals who have not had adequate access to entrepreneurship training opportunities that have been specifically adapted to their circumstances. RISE, in particular, focuses its support on aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. 

The launch will include program participants, program mentors, CIE partners, and many others who will be providing participants with the entrepreneurial knowledge and support they need to change the trajectory of their lives and those of their families.

RSVP by September 1 to reserve your place now; space is limited.

Team up with Mason to Ignite Social Change

Mason’s learning experiences extend beyond campus and into the community. The Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECiL) brings together students, faculty, and community partners to collaborate on positive social change in our community.

If your organization offers service-learning opportunities for students, consider becoming a community partner with CECiL. Learn more on CECiL's website.