Thursday, February 28, 2013
County Executive Ed Long will chat with residents on proposed $7 billion Fiscal Year 2014 county budget.
Do you have questions about Fairfax County’s FY2014 proposed budget? Your chance to get answers from County Executive Ed Long is coming Thursday morning. Long will host an hour-long chat starting at 9:30 a.m. today to discuss his proposed $7 billion budget, which he unveiled for officials and the public Tuesday. The advertised package includes a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate from $1.075 per $100 of assessed value to $1.095. The increase is projected to raise nearly $42 million in count revenue. But when coupled with increases in real estate assessments, the proposed rate would cost the average county household about $262 more in real estate taxes. The budget also reduces funding for parks and libraries, and allots the school …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The county faces a $169 million shortfall.
Fairfax County Executive Ed Long will unveil the county’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget today. The county faces budget shortfalls of $169 million and $274 million in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, respectively. In order to better prepare for the future, he says, Long will present a multi-year budget plan for FY2014-2015 during the Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled Feb. 26 meeting. Those shortfalls are based on keeping the tax rate unchanged while also increasing the transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools. Fairfax County School Board officials intend to ask for an increase of 5.5 percent – or $92.4 million – for a total transfer of $1.77 billion. During a joint meeting of the two boards in November 2012, Long included an increase …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
In annual address, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova warns sequestration could impact revenues, is making business owners delay decisions.
Revitalization and development will drive Fairfax County's economy in 2013 and beyond, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said in her annual state of the county address Wednesday. Talking to members of the media Wednesday morning, Bulova said massive development projects in Tysons, Merrifield and Springfield will create "bright days and years ahead" — but the threat of sequestration was also making business owners hesitant to commit to a relocation or expansion in the county. “Fairfax County’s future is in development,” Bulova said in her statement. “Aging commercial centers near mass transit, like Tysons, present especially valuable opportunities for attractive, transit-oriented mixed-use revitalization.” The county is hoping …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
With budget shortfalls on the horizon, Fairfax County employee pay could take a hit this year.
Fairfax County employees likely won't see pay increases in Fiscal Year 2014, according to County Executive Ed Long. The county faces dramatic budget shortfalls over the next two years and pay increases this year might not be financially feasible, Long told supervisors Tuesday during a divisive discussion of a new proposed employee pay structure. In Long’s proposed plan, which would kick in after FY 2014, county employees would get a cost of living increase (estimated to be about 2 percent) in odd-numbered years and be eligible for regular and performance-based pay bumps in even-numbered years. Public safety employees would still receive increases based on longevity annually, but public safety merit increases would be paid in even-numbered …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Watch board meetings live or on demand.
The Department of Cable and Consumer Services, in partnership with the Board of Supervisors, has introduced a new online streaming media solution to view Board of Supervisors meetings on demand, according to a release from Fairfax County. Using technology from streaming media content provider Granicus, viewers can now keyword search and navigate directly to specific Board meeting agenda items. Granicus is the service the Town of Herndon uses for online viewing. The video link launches a split-screen window, with video and options to the left and the meeting agenda to the right. By clicking on an individual agenda item, the video will jump to that portion of the meeting. "Board meeting information is now more accessible. You can watch …
HHS cheer took first place at VHSL State Cheer Championships in November.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the Herndon High School varsity co-ed cheer team during its presentations on Tuesday. The team won first place at the Virginia High School League State Cheer Championships in November, a first for the team. Herndon earned 280.5 points during its championship winning performance. To see the winning routine, click on the embeded YouTube video in the media player above.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Initiative will target West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease in 2013.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday an insect control program designed to fight West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. The 2013 Disease Carrying Insect Program is a series of measures designed to prevent widespread outbreaks of West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and other illnesses in the county. The annual initiative involves monitoring mosquitoes and ticks, surveillance on any human cases in the county, and educating residents on effective prevention. West Nile Virus season runs from May to October, according to officials. During the the 2012 mosquito monitoring period, county health experts trapped and tested more than 64,000 mosquitos in nearly 2,800 groups. Of those groups, 255 tested positive for West Nile Virus. Positive …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
County officials have proposed using jail inmates to clean up illegal signs on county roads.
At the end of February, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will weigh using jail inmates from the county’s Community Labor Force to clean up illegal signs in problem areas across the county. A public hearing on the issue has been scheduled for Feb. 26. According to county officials, the program is estimated to cost about $150,000 – money that supervisors approved for sign cleanup during the FY2012 carryover review last year. Under the supervision of officers from the sheriff’s office, inmates would clean up signs on roughly 53 roadways around the county, Deputy County Executive Rob Stalzer said Tuesday. A bill by Del. Dave Albo (R-42), passed last year, made placing political signs on public property illegal across Virginia, and also …
Monday, January 14, 2013
Herrity's initiative could bring in $250,000 annually to help promote tourism for the county. Supervisors will petition DMV to allow plates; Visit Fairfax will come up with a design.
Fairfax County may soon have its own custom-designed license plates, an initiative designed to bring in revenue for the World Police and Fire Games, which the county is set to host two years from now, and as a way to bolster its tourism budget afterward. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion this week to petition the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for the plates. Visit Fairfax, the convention and visitor bureau for the county, has been directed to come up with designs. Revenue from the $15 plates will assist in the World Police and Fire Games, which the County will host in 2015. "I was proud to bring this initiative to the Board, it doesn’t cost the county a dime and it will reap rewards for years to…
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Not addressing sequestration puts business growth, NOVA economy in limbo, Fairfax County leaders say.
Fairfax County officials are disappointed Tuesday’s last-minute “fiscal cliff” bill does not address a solution for sequestration cuts that could endanger Northern Virginia’s economic well being. Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said she was grateful Congress took action and passed the bill, which keeps the Bush-era tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 and couples making less that $450,000. It also makes permanent the fixes for the Alternative Minimum Tax and delays government spending cuts for two months. “Even though it’s not a comprehensive resolution to everything at least people are talking and at least things have gotten started,” she said. “But we’re disappointed that we still have waiting to do.” Bulova …
PatV
8:41 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Well, Sharon Bulova just lost my vote last time around. more ›