Photo of Virginia Capitol and a slot machine

February 18, 2026

Neighbors,

For those who didn’t catch the news, this past Friday, the Virginia Senate passed a bill to bring a casino to Fairfax County. It will now move to the House for consideration.

As I reported in my last newsletter, the requirement to locate a casino in Tysons was stripped from the bill last week.

Before the bill was passed by the full Senate, however, Senator Scott Surovell — who’s sponsoring the legislation (SB 756) — successfully amended it to add a new location requirement.

Now, a casino would need to be “part of a coordinated mixed-use project development consisting of no less than 1.5 million square feet” that could include a conference center, hotel, or entertainment district or large-scale concert venue.

This means that a casino could be located anywhere there is significant mixed-use development in the county — not just Tysons.

The Senate approved the casino bill by a 23-14 vote, and I want to thank Senators Jennifer Boysko, Saddam Salim, Adam Ebbin, Barbara Favola, and Danica Roem for their continued votes against this this legislation we did not request. On a 5-4 vote in December the Board of Supervisors approved my amendment to oppose casino authorization legislation in Richmond.

While last year’s casino legislation died in a House subcommittee, it remains to be seen what will happen this year. Of course, the bill would still need to be signed by the governor. The Board of Supervisors would then have to vote to select a casino operator, then select a site for the casino, and then vote to schedule a referendum, and Fairfax County voters would still need to approve that referendum. And all necessary zoning and land use approvals from Fairfax County would still have to be obtained with all the associated public hearings, site plan, and permitting approvals.

The General Assembly should put this bad idea to rest right now.

Regards,

Walter

In This Edition

Ranked Choice Voting Town Hall Feb. 23
Vienna Restaurant Week Returns Feb. 28
Board of Supervisors Update
Native Seedling Sale Starts Thursday
Federal Worker Career Fair Feb. 26
Two Hunter Mill Startups Get Grants
Upcoming Land Use Meetings
What's News in Vienna
Events and Activities

Town Hall Meeting: Learn About

Ranked Choice Voting Feb. 23

Ranked choice voting is becoming more popular nationwide with 62 cities, counties and states using this voting method, including New York City, Minneapolis and more locally Arlington County. And political parties have intermittently used ranked choice voting to determine their party’s nominee in various Virginia and Fairfax County races.

What could ranked choice voting look like in a publicly-administered election in Fairfax County?

Come to my town hall meeting on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center to learn more. I’ve invited two experts to share their insights:

Gretchen Reinemeyer, Arlington County Director of Elections: Arlington was the first jurisdiction in Virginia to pilot ranked choice voting, and she’ll share how it works, what the voter feedback has been, and the lessons they’ve learned.
Liz White, Executive Director for Up Vote Virginia: a nonpartisan organization focused on improving election systems, including ranked choice voting, campaign finance reform and fully independent redistricting.

Background: In 2020, Virginia passed legislation to allow localities to use ranked choice voting for city and county governing body elections until July 1, 2031. Two jurisdictions in Virginia are using it in government-administered elections: Arlington County and the city of Charlottesville. In Arlington, ranked choice voting is used in primaries for county board members and it was used for the first time in a general election in 2024. Charlottesville used RCV in its city-administered council primary election last year.

Vienna Restaurant Week Returns Feb. 28

What’s happening: Dine out with prix fixe menus, exclusive specials, and limited-time dishes from 40-plus restaurants during Vienna’s Restaurant Week from Feb. 28 to March 8.

You’ll enjoy some of the best food in the DMV during the 10-day event with cuisines spanning the globe from Asia to South America to Europe to the Middle East.

This annual celebration of flavor is your chance to savor great food while supporting local, small businesses in Vienna.

Find Eateries

Fairfax County Executive's FY 27 budget proposal cover

Board of Supervisors Update

County Executive Presents His Proposed Budget

What’s happening: Fairfax County has begun its annual budget process, and the county executive presented his proposed FY 2027 budget yesterday.

He said that his advertised budget keeps the real estate tax rate flat but nevertheless, it will be able to fund “core spending requirements” for both the county and schools. The budget proposes targeted spending reductions while making investments in schools, employees, and facilities. Here are some highlights:

It proposes $32.9 million in county budget cuts and eliminating 107 merit positions. If taken, these cuts would mean the the county has cut nearly $125 million in recurring spending over the past four years. During yesterday’s board meeting I noted that I will be reviewing this budget with our most vulnerable residents in mind, and that is certainly the case with these proposed reductions.
While the real estate tax rate would remain unchanged at the current $1.1225 rate per $100 in assessed value, homeowners on average would pay $356 more in taxes because assessment have increased by 3.99% on average. While this is better than last year’s budget, homeowners are still paying too much in property taxes. I reman committed to find other revenue sources to ease the burden for homeowners.
The budget prioritizes reinvestment in the county’s aging facilities and information technology systems. Seventy-five percent of county facilities are now at least two decades old, underscoring the need for sustained capital renewal.
The budget fully funds collective bargaining agreements, includes a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and supports performance, merit and longevity increases. It also reflects rising benefit and retirement costs, partially offset by savings in retiree health obligations.
The budget includes a $99.2 million increase in funding for the schools, including a $7.5 million increase for the School Construction Fund and an $11.4 million increase for school debt services. Total support for FCPS is proposed at $3.05 billion of the $5.97 billion of general fund revenues (taxes) collected by Fairfax County.

While this funding is approximately $40 million less than the superintendent requested, this gap might be closed by additional state revenue and savings. T

What’s next: The county executive’s proposal is a just a first step in the budget process before the Board adopts its budget. I will be holding virtual and in-person town halls to get your feedback

Stay tuned for more details, but the first will be Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m, at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna. The second will beThursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.

McNair Farms Community Parking District Approved. Boat Parking Now Banned

What’s happening: The Board approved my request to create a parking district for the McNair Farms neighborhoods in Herndon.

Thanks to the many neighbors and homeowners association representatives who voiced concerns about the boats parked — and stored — on the public streets, and this parking district will help alleviate these problems.

“McNair Farms has increasingly become a place known to dump, store, and let rot — at one point four dozen and increasing every year — multiple types and sizes of boats, trailers, RVs, jet skis, and oversized vehicles. We appreciate Supervisor Alcorn and his staff being so attentive to our concerns from day one, and organizing the process to make this 25-year saga of much wanted and needed changes to our community. Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn.”

-Rob MacDonald, Board Member for the McNair Farms Master Association and Kensington Townes Homeowners Association.

Map showing the expanded Reston Community Parking District

Parking restrictions: A community parking district would prevent boats, boat trailers, RVs, campers and other large vehicles from parking on public roads within the parking district. (The restrictions would not apply to private streets, however.)

District boundaries: The new parking district would roughly encompass the roads to the east of Monroe Street, south of Sunrise Valley Drive, west of Centreville Road and north of McLearen Road. The district would expand the existing large area parking district that’s already in place for much of Reston (see map).

Parking help: If you need help with parking problems or traffic calming in your neighborhood, please contact Shyamali Hauth in my office by email or call 703-478-0283.

Cathy Hudgins Community Center’s 20^th Anniversary

Yesterday I successfully introduced a motion to recognize the Cathy Hudgins Community Center’s 20^th anniversary.

The center first opened its doors on July 10, 2006, and it’s anticipated that an anniversary celebration will be held this August.

While it will be a moment of great joy, it also will be a bittersweet one since we lost Cathy last year.

However, the center stands as one of her most enduring legacies. Her leadership revived and transformed a privately owned community room and swimming pool — which had sat vacant and unused for nine years — into a vibrant public gathering place for engagement, education, and recreation. This anniversary is a moment to honor not just the building, but also Cathy’s lasting contribution to the fabric of our community. I’m also proud to have introduced the motion to name the center in her honor five years ago.

Real Estate Assessments Increase

3.99% on Average

Real Estate Assessments Increase 3.99% on Average

What’s happening: Be on the lookout for your 2026 real estate assessment in the mail. The county is sending them to property owners now, and you may also find them online.

These notices reflect a property's assessed value. It’s not a tax bill.

On average, assessments increased 3.99% countywide based on market-driven changes in value called “equalization.” In the Hunter Mill District, assessments increased slightly more by 5.17% on average.

Average Values: Of the total number of residential properties, 81.2% increased in value due to equalization. This is a breakdown of mean home assessments:

Single-family detached homes – $1,012,504, up 4.28%
Townhouse/duplex properties – $612,580, up 3.9%
Condominiums – $387,560, up 2.94%

By law, Fairfax County must assess all real estate at 100% of its fair market value as of Jan. 1, and for most residential properties fair market value is best determined from comparable sales data.

Look up assessments in your neighborhood: Use the county’s online, interactive map to look up:

Assessment changes and sales
Home sales in your area
Find properties similar to yours

View Neighborhood Assessments

Native Seedling Sale Starts Thursday, Feb. 19

What’s happening: Place your order for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District’s Native Seedling Sale starting Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. Act quickly since the seedlings sell out fast.

This year’s sale offers trees and shrubs that fruit:

Common Pawpaw
American Plum
Canadian Serviceberry
American Elderberry

The seedlings sold are first- and second-year bare-root trees and shrubs which means they are small and come without soil.

Order Now

Future Forward career fair for federal workers on Feb. 26 2026

Career Fair for Federal Workers Feb. 26

What’s happening: Attend a career fair for dislocated and current federal workers and contractors on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Meet more than 30 employers actively looking to hire former feds, and participate in optional workshops on networking strategies, career transition resources, support services and more.

Fairfax Founders Fund makes grants to five startups in 2026

Fairfax Founders Fund Propels Five Startups Including Two in Hunter Mill District

What’s happening: Fairfax County awarded $50,000 in grants through the Fairfax Founders Fund to five innovative startups, including two in the Hunter Mill District:

Zeracorp, Inc. (Reston): This firm developed Zerapy, an AI-driven digital health platform for physical therapy, and the grant will support the expansion of the platform's clinical capabilities.
CyberMirage, Inc. (Vienna): This cybersecurity firm protects digital intellectual property from bots and piracy, and the funding will be used to fuel customer acquisition and market expansion.

Why it matters: By supporting local startups, Fairfax County is helping to:

Create new jobs
Support a diverse group of entrepreneurs, including women, veterans, and people of color
Ensure our community remains a top destination for new ideas

Tell me more: The Fairfax Founders Fund invests up to $50,000 in early-stage funding and technical help to businesses based in the county. So far, the 13 companies previously awarded grants — including two in the Hunter Mill District — have earned nearly $20 million in revenue and contracts and raised nearly $4 million in grants and capital.

In 2024, two Vienna startups secured $50,000 grants:

KAPPA AgTech: This innovative company developed groundbreaking solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture, an intensive form of indoor, hydroponically based agriculture. Their silicone substrate replaces traditional growing media, eliminating recurring costs. It’s patented ventilated lighting technology reduces power consumption by up to 50%.
NanoNiFe: This startup offers innovative batteries for homeowners to store energy generated from renewable sources like solar panels. Their Vanadium Redox Flow Battery technology offers a superior alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Jumpstart your business: If you’re launching a startup or scaling your small business, take advantage of the county’s free tools, resources and advice:

Check out Fairfax CORE for a comprehensive roadmap of local resources, Submit your challenging business questions to Fairfax County’s Ask the Expert
Register for the Entrepreneur Help Desk for personalized guidance

Plus, don't miss the EDA’s Entrepreneurship 101 (E-101) March 10 workshop to master the fundamentals of starting your business.

Upcoming Land Use Meetings

Reston Planning & Zoning Feb. 23

Attend the virtual meeting on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. Click here to join. To attend by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and enter meeting ID 693 626 456#

Agenda:

1850 Old Reston Ave: RZ-2025-HM-00018
Pulte Lofts II: RZ-2022-HM-00003 (Concurrent with Samuel Morse Drive SSPA)
TBD

What's News in Vienna

Celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 28

Celebrate with Historic Vienna Inc. and the ViennaVA250 committee on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1-3 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Join them for a free special presentation: "Deeply Rooted in the Land: African-American Legacies in Fairfax County." University of Mary Washington history professor Krystyn Moon will explore segregationist housing practices during the twentieth century and the African American families who owned land in Vienna.

Display Your Love for Vienna

Show your love of country (and Vienna) with a Town of Vienna holiday ornament commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. This special keepsake is $25 and available for purchase at the Vienna Town Hall and the Vienna Community Center. Proceeds support #ViennaVA250 events. Questions? Call 703-255-6304 or email.

Reston Chorale presents Broadway favorites with Jacque and Alan on Feb. 22 2026

Events and Activities 🎉

‍🖩Get help with your taxes at Reston Community Center through April 15.

💻Attend a virtual volunteer orientation for the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance on Feb. 18.

📽️Watch a screening of the documentary “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” on Feb. 18 at Reston Community Center.

🚶🏾‍♀️‍➡️Find your way around Tysons Feb. 18 for a webinar on the Tysons wayfinding signage projects.

📚Find your next read at Fall for the Book Mini Fest on Feb. 19 at George Mason University.

💬Celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 20 at the Fairfax County Government Center.

🎷Listen to the Washington Saxophone Quartet perform a free concert on Feb. 20 at Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna.

🐦Take a Birding for Beginners class and outing on Feb. 20 in Tysons.

🎸Rock out to Urgent – Tribute to Foreigner on Feb. 20 at Capital One Hall.

🎸Listen to The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook on Feb. 21 at Capital One Hall.

🐦‍⬛Join a Winter birding outing on Feb. 21 at Lake Audubon

🎂Celebrate George Washington’s actual birthday on Feb. 22 at Mount Vernon.

🎭 Reduced Shakespeare Company performs “All The Great Books (abridged)” on Feb. 22 at Reston Community Center.

🎤Acclaimed vocalists Alan Naylor and Jacquelynne Fontaine-Isaa perform Broadway favorites on Feb. 22 at Reston Community Center, benefitting the Reston Chorale.

🧘🏾‍♀️Take a Pilates mat class starting Feb. 23 at Reston Community Center.

🌻Learn how your yard or balcony can be a pollinator garden on Feb. 24 at the Oakmont RECenter.

📖Attend an evening with Romantasy authors Rachel Van Dyken and Alysha Rameera sponsored by Bards Alley on Feb. 24 at Sherwood Community Center.

🌱Learn how to identify invasive species on Feb. 24 during a Blue Ridge PRISM webinar.

🎞️Watch “Anniversary” on Feb. 25 at Senior Movie Day at Reston Town Center.

🎤Olivier Award-nominated The Choir of Man performs on Feb. 26 at Capital One Hall.

🎤Attend Citrus Con, virtual convention for BL/queer media, shipping, and fanworks, from Feb. 27 to March 1.

🔭Star-gaze with the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club on Feb. 28 at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

💃🏾Enjoy the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble’s performance rooted in African American traditions on Feb. 28 at Reston Community Center.

🚶Join the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods Walking Group on March 1.

📚Browse the Quarterly Book & Media Sale from March 5-8 at Tysons Pimmit Regional Library.

🇵🇸Attend a Palestine Benefit Iftar Fundraiser on March 6 at Vienna Community Center.

🤣Pause for laugher with Israeli-American comedian Modi on March 1 at Capital One Hall.

📖Attend a book talk by historian Alexander Rose, author of “Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring,” on March 4 at George Mason University.

🌳Participate in Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM’s Spring Tree Rescuer Extravaganza starting March 21.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.