Tuesday, March 12, 2013
“We’re just growing too much,” Superintendent Jack Dale said Tuesday as talks began between county supervisors and school board members.
Fairfax County is facing its own budget woes for Fiscal Year 2014: Property taxes could rise as much as 2 cents per $100 of assessed value, bumping the average homeowner's tax bill, and County Executive Ed Long has said raises for employees aren't likely. But the county's struggles could also make Fairfax County Public Schools come up short on its own $2.5 billion advertised budget, officials said Tuesday as they met to discuss budget issues and priorities. It doesn't appear the county, which gives an annual transfer to the school board, can afford to give the board as much as it asked for this winter. In order to close a $169 million shortfall and prepare for the still-unknown effects of sequestration, County Executive Ed Long has …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Supervisors directed staff Tuesday to examine costs and benefits of a launching another red light camera program, which reduced violations by 45 percent during its first run a decade ago.
Though they've been gone for more than half a decade, red light cameras could return to Fairfax County. The county's board of supervisors asked staff Tuesday to study how much it would cost to bring back camera enforcement for select red lights in the county, and where cameras could be effective. The former red light camera program, implemented at 10 intersections from 2002 to June 2005, was successful, but costly:During the program’s run, the county lost more than $1.3 million. That figure, Supervisor Michael Frey (R-Sully), should indicate this isn't a move to generate more revenue, but instead, make roads safer. “That’s the point,” he said. “Raising revenue isn’t.” Frey’s renewed interest in the program was sparked following the …
As part of Registry Week, volunteers searched the woods to find those who live in encampments. The information will be used to track them - and hopefully get them into homes.
Fairfax County officials and volunteers counted 462 homeless living outdoors during the recently completed Registry Week, part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign to track homeless individuals and their progress in finding permanent housing. More than 200 volunteers scoured the woods and other hidden areas of the county last week in order to count, photograph, and get names and histories of the county's homeless. The results helped create a registery local agencies can use in the future to measure the progress on the fight to end homelessness, officials said. Reston Interfaith CEO Kerrie Wilson said she saw great honesty from those living outdoors. "I was struck by the differences in talking with someone in their 'home' – in their space…
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. Thursday 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 …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
No employee pay increases in Fiscal Year 2014 spending plan, which would increase average household taxes by $262 and give Fairfax County Public Schools $62 million less than officials asked for.
Fairfax County Executive Ed Long unveiled Tuesday his $7 billion fiscal year 2014 budget proposal, a plan that raises real estate taxes and cuts funds to parks and libraries, among other services. Long’s advertised budget 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. Revenue projections are generally flat for the coming year, showing a slight decrease in growth from 2.79 percent in FY2013 to 2.77 percent in FY2014. With sequestration around the corner, Long …
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 this Tuesday. 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 …
Friday, February 22, 2013
With budget shortfalls on the horizon, Fairfax County employee pay could take a hit this year.
Fairfax County employees likely won't see a raise 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 only in even-numbered …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Unions, some supervisors say proposed changes to how Fairfax County pays its employees — namely, an odd-even pay increase system — need more discussion.
Proposed changes to Fairfax County employee compensation were met with criticism and questions from county officials and union representatives Tuesday. County Executive Ed Long first presented a new employee compensation structure to supervisors in December, which would disband the current system — in which employees are eligibile for pay increases every year — and replace it with an odd-even schedule for cost of living and merit raises. But union reps urged supervisors Tuesday not to pass the plan as part of the FY2014 budget process, saying such drastic changes required more careful debate. Many supervisors agreed, saying they didn't want to rush the matter. “I don’t believe we should be doing this during the budget schedule,” Supervisor…
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Dominion Puppy Raising Region will lose its home in a Vienna church Feb. 15.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s puppy raisers in Northern Virginia are in need of a new space to help train young puppies and help them on their way to becoming adult guide dogs. The Dominion Puppy Raising Region, made up of 18 volunteers who raise and socialize puppies for 12 to 16 months, currently holds group classes at the Vienna Presbyterian Church. Volunteers have taught their pups at the church for a few years, said Carrie Barnett, Guiding Eyes’ regional program manager. But now the church wants use the space to accommodate other groups, so the Dominion Puppy Raisers will be in need of a new training space starting Feb. 15. “This is a great opportunity for us to look for a space that is better suited for our needs,” Barnett said. Puppy…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors may raise capacity limit to 12 children by special permit, but by-right limit will stay at seven.
Fairfax County officials aren’t budging on the number of children a home day care facility is allowed to care for without a special permit. The Commonwealth of Virginia allows for up to 12 children in a licensed day-care, but Fairfax County ordinances allow for only seven. Providers can apply for a special permit that allows for a maximum of 10. The county law was rarely enforced, prompting many providers to take in a dozen kids, as allowed by their state licenses. But new state regulations that require formal documentation from zoning officials will have many providers applying for special permits, so the Board is proposing raising the permit limit to 12 children. During its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted to advertise a …
Erica R. Hendry
10:15 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Hi folks, There's actually a salary comparison in this article about teacher pay. http://vienna.patch.com/articles/leaders-worry-fairfax-teacher-pay-won-t-be-competitive The average starting salary is $45,161. Those with master's degrees receive around $58,000. Thanks for reading, Erica more ›