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Fairfax County leaders have about $52 million in unexpected funding to allocate or save after reviewing the government’s third-quarter financial position.
Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay welcomed the results following a March 24 presentation to the board’s Budget Policy Committee, saying the review contained “a number of good news stories.”
County staff has recommended roughly $44.3 million in additional spending and nearly $6 million for a reserve fund. About $2 million would remain unallocated.
Quarterly surpluses are typical for the county. Most of the additional revenue identified for fiscal 2026 came from two areas: $30.25 million in higher personal property tax collections tied to vehicles and data centers, and $19.93 million in investment interest above budget projections.
Supervisors have five weeks to consider the recommendations before a final decision scheduled for April 28. Phil Hagen, director of the Department of Management and Budget, said officials continue to monitor every revenue category.
Facilities, technology and public safety targeted
The largest proposed expenditure is $18 million for renovations and upgrades at existing county facilities with significant maintenance needs.
Another $15.7 million would address information technology needs. Staff also recommends $6.9 million for public safety overtime associated with recent winter weather emergencies and staffing shortages at the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.
Fairfax County Park Authority recreation centers would receive about $5 million for repairs and upgrades. Nursing services for at-risk students would receive $730,000.
An additional $100,000 would expand the Park Authority’s ongoing playground study to include facilities operated by Fairfax County Public Schools and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
The recommendations also include approximately $1.27 million for several recent special elections and $350,000 for outside legal services.
Visit Fairfax would receive about $1.87 million as its portion of the county’s recently approved hotel room tax increase. Of that amount, $850,000 would promote Fairfax County to visitors celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary later this year.
Camera enforcement among 66 proposed positions
County staff is proposing 66 new permanent positions, although officials say the jobs would be supported by state funding or revenue generated through county services.
Fairfax County expects fines to cover the cost of five employees who would help enforce its growing network of speed cameras and school bus stop-arm cameras.
State money would fund an estimated 13 additional Department of Family Services employees. Those positions are intended to ease workload pressures caused by an increase in Medicaid applications from county residents.
Supervisors will receive another month of economic data before voting on the third-quarter allocations. McKay described the broader economic outlook as unstable and said the county is seeking to preserve existing services while reducing recurring costs.
Public hearings on the proposed expenditures are scheduled for April 14 through April 16. They will be held alongside hearings on County Executive Bryan Hill’s proposed $5.7 billion fiscal 2027 budget.