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Falls Church has approved its fiscal 2027 budget, pairing increased spending on schools and city services with a half-cent real estate tax-rate reduction. Even with that cut, rising assessments mean the median homeowner’s bill is expected to climb by $557.
The May 11 City Council vote came amid stronger-than-expected revenue results, but Mayor Letty Hardi warned that fiscal 2028 could bring tougher choices.
City adopts fiscal 2027 budget
The $59.5 million general government operating budget, excluding debt service, represents a 3.4 percent increase over fiscal 2026.
The city will transfer $58.1 million in general tax revenue to schools, up 4.8 percent. Including state and federal funding, the School Division’s operating budget totals $71.9 million, an increase of 3.6 percent.
Council members lowered the real estate tax rate by half a cent to $1.18 per $100 of assessed value. Because home values appreciated, however, the median homeowner’s real estate tax bill is projected to rise 4.6 percent, or $557.
The six-year Capital Improvements Program includes:
- $100.6 million for transportation
- $19.7 million for city and school facilities
- $33.5 million for sanitary sewers
- $8.7 million for stormwater projects
Federal, state and regional grants will provide $94.8 million, including $90 million for transportation safety and accessibility work. No new taxpayer-funded debt is planned before fiscal 2031, when the city expects to borrow $5 million to replace the Falls Church Fire Station roof.
Built around the theme “Reliable, Responsive, and Resilient,” the budget includes $1.5 million for street maintenance and a request for a $1 million grant to pave Routes 7 and 29. General government employees are slated for 4 percent merit raises, Sheriff’s deputies for market adjustments of 5 to 12 percent and police officers for a 14 percent adjustment.
Other investments include 12 committed affordable housing units, improved fire-hydrant access and renewed city support for the Watch Night New Year’s Eve celebration.
The city also plans a new code administration department and contracted technology support for enterprise resource planning and information security. Officials addressed rising interjurisdictional and contract expenses with $1.5 million in cuts.
Sewer spending includes $4.5 million to reduce inflow and infiltration, $6.7 million to enlarge pipes with Fairfax County and a newly awarded $1 million federal improvement grant. The stormwater plan provides $8.7 million for larger conveyance systems and green infrastructure, plus a $500,000 resilience-planning grant.
The budget process included 10 public meetings, all carried online and on local public-access television.
Hardi celebrates good news but warns of a harder year
After the vote, Hardi credited city staff, the public, new Chief Financial Officer Art Agin and outgoing City Manager Wyatt Shields for their work.
She said three developments eased a budget season that began under substantial uncertainty: residential assessments were nearly twice as strong as those in neighboring jurisdictions, commercial assessments exceeded expectations and third-quarter local revenue results improved over the previous year.
Hardi connected that growth to mixed-use development and the city’s broader appeal. She described the half-cent rate cut as a modest acknowledgment that stronger revenue should help reduce residents’ tax burden.
The mayor nevertheless cautioned that fiscal 2028 may be more difficult because no new commercial development is expected to begin producing revenue next year.
She urged officials to prepare for slower revenue growth and consider how priorities would change if increases fell to about 3 percent instead of the recent 6 to 8 percent. She also pointed to possible major facility expenses, called for a more flexible school revenue-sharing model and supported studying additional revenue options before they become necessary.
Long-term issues must also compete with immediate demands, Hardi said. She suggested creating a climate-action report card, similar to tracking used for housing or transportation, so work to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions receives consistent attention.
Hardi called the adopted plan balanced, pragmatic and realistic. Council members submitted 104 budget questions, which she said was a record.
Harvey’s Summer Stomp supports disability services
Harvey’s Bar & Restaurant, 513 W. Broad St., will hold its Summer Stomp from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21.
The family event will feature music, food, games and displays from nearly two dozen child-focused businesses and community organizations. Harvey’s will donate 10 percent of its proceeds for the entire day to OSG, a local nonprofit helping adults with developmental disabilities find affordable housing, connect with neighbors and live with greater independence.
Participating groups include OSG, Acton Academy, Clay Cafe, Creative Cauldron, Dulin Preschool, Easter Seals Child Development Center, Founders Eye Care, KiPS Family Gymnastics, Kysela Imports, The Learning Quest, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Penzey’s Spices, ProHealth Medical, Scramble, Seven Corners Psychotherapy, Sylvan Learning Center, The Toy Nest and Tutor Smart.
Harvey’s owner Thomas Harvey said the gathering offers a way to connect local businesses with Falls Church families while supporting OSG’s work. Executive Director Margot Greenlee said the event reflects the community’s support for adults with developmental disabilities and their ability to make meaningful choices.
Memorial Day celebration returns May 25
Falls Church’s 44th annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 25, around City Hall, 300 Park Ave. The event will proceed rain or shine.
The festival will include more than 70 vendors, food trucks, civic groups, artisans, children’s rides, pony rides, inflatables and live music. Marking the country’s 250th anniversary, the VA250 Mobile Museum will present its interactive “Out of Many, One” exhibit outside City Hall.
The free June and Mike Beyer Foundation 3K Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. at Great Falls and Little Falls streets and finishes at Park Avenue and Little Falls Street. Registration is not required, and bicycles, scooters and rollerblades are prohibited.
Local pop cover band Road Street Avenue will perform at 9 a.m. and noon on the main stage at Park Avenue and Little Falls Street.
At 11 a.m., the Greater Falls Church Veterans Council will hold a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial outside the Community Center. Shields, concluding 23 years as city manager, will deliver the keynote address.
The parade begins at 2 p.m. along Park Avenue between North West and Little Falls streets. The Quantico Marine Corps Band will lead the procession with grand marshals Nan Hof, Shey Wakeley and Mary Jo West. “Best of” trophies will be presented afterward.
An Inova blood drive will also operate outside the Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nearby street closures will begin at 5 a.m., so visitors should review parking and travel arrangements beforehand.
Falls Church Forward plans gatherings and meeting summaries
Bike, Walk and Roll FC and Falls Church Forward will host a joint happy hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Helenas Mexican Restaurant, 502 W. Broad St., Suite 5. The gathering will focus on bicycling, walking and other ways of moving around the city.
The group will also hold a Memorial Day block party at 4 p.m. Monday, May 25, on the 1100 block of Seaton Lane. Families, friends and neighbors are invited, and the event is expected to feature Donny the miniature horse.
Falls Church Forward is additionally posting automated, fact-focused summaries of City Council, Planning Commission and other board meetings on its Discord community, along with previews of upcoming agendas.
The coalition advocates for a wider range of housing, locally owned businesses, people-centered streets, accessible public spaces, environmental sustainability and broader civic participation.
Virginia Dream sweeps two weekend matches
Virginia Dream FC earned victories in two leagues over the weekend, preserving its undefeated United Premier Soccer League run before opening its National Premier Soccer League season with a seven-goal performance.
Against Alexandria Reds Pro on Saturday, Diarra Zoumana scored in the 28th minute as he continued his pursuit of the Golden Boot. Bernie Majano added a goal in the 68th minute to secure the victory.
Virginia Dream then defeated NPSL newcomer Hub City of Hagerstown, Maryland, 7-2 on Sunday.
AP Slavov, Fela Osifesu and Mike Akinkoye scored during the first 37 minutes, giving the Dream a 3-0 advantage. Hub City cut the lead to 3-1 before halftime and scored again in the 58th minute.
After substitutions helped Virginia Dream regain momentum, Osifesu and Slavov each scored their second goal of the match. Tobi Osisefu added two more goals to complete the rout.
The Dream sits atop its conference with 16 points and the goal-differential advantage. The club will host Arlington Soccer Association Pro in a UPSL Virginia North Conference title match at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Meridian High School Stadium, known as “The Cloud.”
Founded in 2022, the Falls Church-based semiprofessional club covers player costs in an effort to remove financial barriers to competition.
Public works, trivia and fitness events announced
Falls Church will mark National Public Works Week with an open house and Touch-A-Truck event from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at the Robert L. Goff Property Yard, 7100 Gordons Road.
Visitors can meet operations and engineering employees, see sanitary-sewer cameras and urban-forestry demonstrations and watch Switch-and-Go trucks and backhoes in action.
West Falls will host a free trivia tournament from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday through June 11 at Commons Park. Teams can compete for weekly prizes while purchasing dinner from nearby restaurants.
Barre3 outdoor exercise classes will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. every second Saturday beginning May 9 at Commons Park, 201 W. Falls Station Blvd. The all-levels sessions combine strength, cardio and balance. Admission is $10, and participants should bring a mat and water.