Article Text
Fairfax County supervisors backed away from a proposed real estate tax increase May 6, lowering the rate to $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value as they worked to close a $292.7 million budget gap.
The board eliminated the advertised 1.5-cent increase and cut the rate by another quarter-cent. But rising assessments mean the average homeowner’s tax bill is still expected to climb by $499. That is less than the $638 average increase under County Executive Bryan Hill’s initial proposal.
Supervisors approved the marked-up fiscal 2026 budget 9-1, with Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity casting the only opposing vote. Formal adoption was scheduled for May 13, and budgets typically do not change between markup and the final vote.
Chairman Jeff McKay called the spending plan “responsive and prudent,” saying it balances financial pressures with the need to protect essential services.
Schools receive less than requested
The budget increases the transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools by $119 million. The additional funding falls short of the $248 million Superintendent Michelle Reid requested for the school system’s proposed $4 billion operating budget.
The county will also fully fund its employee compensation plan and raise the transient occupancy tax from 4% to 6%.
Supervisors set aside a $12.6 million reserve for potential economic effects from federal government actions, including reductions in the federal workforce.
Ambulances and community programs spared
The board had considered about $60 million in cuts while addressing the nearly $300 million shortfall in the original budget. Following public testimony, supervisors restored or retained several services that had been at risk.
Funding was preserved for four critical ambulance units: Ambulance 416 in Clifton, Ambulance 420 in Gunston, Ambulance 441 serving Crosspointe and Fairfax Station, and Ambulance 439 in the North Point and Herndon area.
High school crossing guards will remain funded in 2026, although supervisors directed the Police Department to explore a less expensive way to provide the service.
The revised plan also restores postsecondary education services for students with developmental disabilities, county park maintenance funding and the full $34,000 allocation for the Community Emergency Response Team program.
“The CERT program, while a relatively small item in the budget, provides significant value to both the volunteers who serve and the broader community,” Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez said. He cited the program’s role in community preparedness and resilience.
Supervisors also retained $3.93 million that had been proposed for elimination from the middle school after-school program. They directed officials to seek savings, potentially by charging fees to families able to pay.
Herrity challenges county spending
Herrity proposed creating a group of residents and consultants with budget expertise to recommend more efficient ways to deliver services, examine options for diversifying revenue and compare Fairfax County with other jurisdictions. The board did not adopt his proposal.
Supervisor Walter Alcorn said several of Herrity’s suggestions deserved further committee discussion.
After the meeting, Herrity said he was pleased supervisors avoided cuts to critical services but remained “disappointed that spending continues to be out of control.”
He identified collective bargaining, prevailing-wage and project-labor agreements, the Sustainable Development Policy and the county’s Operational Energy Strategy as areas of concern.