Volume 02 | January 15, 2020
Yesterday was the first meeting of the new Board of Supervisors. We are all excited about the future and are ready to write the next chapter of Fairfax County's history.

It was an exciting day. Not only was it the first meeting I presided over as Chairman of the Board, it was the first meeting for my newly elected colleagues: Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw , Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn , Lee Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik . I would also like to welcome back Dranesville Supervisor John Foust , Mason Supervisor Penny Gross , Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck , Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity and Sully Supervisor Kathy Smith .

Key Takeaways:

  1. Proclamations to designate Community Risk Reduction Week, Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Teen Cancer Awareness Week.
  2. Members of the Board were assigned to their committees
  3. Information on the 2020 Census was shared
  4. The Board agreed to transfer property to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
  5. The strike at Metro's Cinder Bed Garage has come to a tentative ending
  6. The approval of a resolution asking for Equal Taxing Authority for counties and cities and other Board Matters

To read in full the items discussed yesterday, click here .
Proclamations
One function of the Board is to raise awareness for the important community issues through proclamations and resolutions.

  • Community Risk Reduction Week from Jan. 20-26
  • To reduce the number and impact of emergency events through prevention.
  • Teen Cancer Awareness Week from Jan. 19-25
  • Highlight teen cancer as distinct in distribution, biology and survivorship from cancer in children and older adults.
  • January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month
  • In 2018 there were 198 cases of human trafficking in Virginia. This is when someone, often under the age of 18, is coerced into labor and commercial sex.
Committee Chairs
The Chairman and members of the Board are appointed to committees to go in depth to find solutions to issues varying from balancing the County budget to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Some the committees and chair appointments are below:

  • Audit: Dan Storck
  • Budget Policy: Jeffrey McKay
  • Economic Advisory: John Foust
  • Environmental: Dan Storck
  • Health and Human Services: Dalia Palchik
  • Housing: John Foust
  • Information Technology: Walter Alcorn
  • Land Use Policy: Kathy Smith
  • Legislative: James Walkinshaw
  • Older Adults: Pat Herrity
  • Personnel and Reorganization: Penny Gross
  • Public Safety: Rodney Lusk
  • Transportation: Walter Alcorn
Census 2020
Everyone needs to be counted in this year's census because it affects how funding is distributed from the federal to state and county level and how legislative districts are drawn.

To ensure that everyone is ready for the Census and we communicate efficiently to you, the Board voted to send information with your Notice of Assessment Change for real estate this year. Expect that at the end of February.
Affordable Housing
  • Approved transfer of Board-owned property to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
  • Will be new supportive housing in Sully at the corner of Route 50 and Fair Ridge Drive
  • Next steps: Rezoning the land and finding a builder to work with
WMATA Metrobus Service
Yesterday, we learned that Transdev and the Amalgamated Transit Union reached a tentative agreement to end the 80-day strike at Metro's Cinder Bed Garage. Our Board played a major role in working to resolve the strike. In addition, Supervisor Walkinshaw and I presented a Board Matter asking County Transportation staff to outline the process to recover the funds for the Metrobus service we have not received the past 12 weeks.
Equal Taxing Authority and other Board Matters
Virginia's outdated tax code limits the ability for county governments to raise revenue. Cities and towns are able to levy more diverse taxes then counties and that makes no sense. Counties are primarily forced to rely on property taxes, which makes housing affordability more difficult.

When the General Assembly doesn't designate sufficient funds for services like education, it makes it difficult for the county to fill funding gaps. Yesterday, we approved a resolution requesting Equal Taxing Authority for counties and cities. This resolution will then be forwarded to the General Assembly.

Other polices:
  • Updating procedural rules followed by the Board
  • Committing Fairfax to building strong relationships with neighboring counties in the National Capital Region
  • Dividing and renaming committees like the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee to the Health and Human Services Committee and the Housing Committee
Announcements
Get involved in your county government and apply to Boards, Authorities and Commissions
  • Email a resume and the name of the BAC to [email protected]
  • We will keep your resume on file if there isn't a vacancy on the BAC you hope to join

Chairman's New Year Reception
Finally, please share with your friends and family that they can also learn about what's happening in Fairfax County by signing up here for this newsletter.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey C. McKay
Chairman
Contact the Office

[email protected] | 703.324.2321 |