Raise Your Voice about the Fairfax County Budget
- Vanessa Hall
- Apr 18
- 5 min read
Get Involved in the Finances of Your County
Although local government budgets seem complicated, every person should care about the finances of their county or city, because it is through local budgets that most of our services are funded and implemented. Local governments are required each year to offer public engagement and listen to public feedback on government and school district finances so this is your opportunity to provide feedback to the County Administration.
In Fairfax County, budget discussions are going on now, and big changes are afoot that should concern county residents. Below is a summary of some of the main issues in the FY2026 Fairfax County Budget and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Budget, and why they are important. If you are short on time, these summaries should get you up to speed: the Fairfax County Budget Presentation and the FCPS Budget handout.
Fairfax County has been holding public town hall meetings around the county. I attended one at West Springfield where staff and families were out in force asking Fairfax County to uphold their obligations to the FCPS contracts to staff. Students and parents shared why after school programming should not be ended in middle school. Students gave amazing testimony, as they coordinated their speeches to cover academic, mental health, and social benefits of the after school middle school programs.
Unfortunately, due to “uncertainty” in the national government and failure of the Governor to properly fund our schools, Fairfax residents will see small tax increases. However, due to the Dillon rule, localities are limited in their funding sources.
Please consider signing up to speak at the public hearings on 4/22-24, or by sending input to the Chairman of the Board, your Board of Supervisor, and maybe even your state representatives to offer feedback (find your representative here).
Property Taxes
Although many of the social media discussions about property taxes feel like listening to Abe Simpson shouting at clouds (“My taxes are going up because my home value is going up!”), we still need to have conversations about property taxes, including the fact that home values are increasing, the personal property tax rate increased due to reductions in commercial tax obligations, and why tax increases are necessary for services and citizens.
The average increase in real estate assessments for Fairfax county was 6.65% in 2025, with the average assessment for all homes at $794,235. For homeowners, this increase was shocking, but not unexpected in the hot Northern Virginia real estate market. However, for those whose property taxes are not rolled into an escrow and paid as part of monthly mortgage payments, this assessment increase is more apparent as they pay yearly property taxes. Nevertheless, these assessments mean that if one were to sell one’s house, one would see greater returns on the investment.
Unfortunately, commercial property assessments remain fairly flat, and continue to struggle with high vacancies and other challenges to meeting their debt obligations. The amount of empty office space has continued to increase to nearly 20%. Due to shortfalls based on commercial properties, Fairfax County is suggesting a 1.5 cent increase on the property tax rate, bringing the rate up to $1.14 per $100 property value, which will result in an annual increase for the average tax bill of just over $638.
County Service Cuts and Reductions
Even with modest proposed tax increases, there are still cuts county-wide that will affect services. Due to decreased revenue caused by commercial property tax shortfalls, Fairfax County has recommended $60 million in spending reductions. In fact, these cuts are the highest level of reduction since FY2010 based on the county’s presentation.
The following are the biggest concerns shared by Fairfax County residents:
Cutting after school programming in Middle School which affects 23,000 students
“[E]limination of a General Relief for Disabled Adults program that helps people apply for financial assistance, reduced funding for at-risk youth services, and the loss of four human services workers involved in programs that provide employment in the community for seniors and help connect children to medical and dental care.”
Other services to seniors and children are on the cutting block, including: senior support services, Head Start, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Bridge to Kindergarten, and SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
Increased staffing shortages in areas that are already understaffed.
Close to 40% of the cuts will be to fire and police services; however, police and firefighters will still receive their negotiated raises based on their new contracts.
Fairfax County Public School Funding
FCPS asked for a net increase of $297.1 million (7.9 %) over FY2025 to cover negotiated contract compensation adjustments for all employees of 7%, retirement rate increases, inclusive preschools, more school-based family liaisons, safety and security investments, addition of certified trainers at high schools, and support for inclusive and multilingual learner initiatives.
The county is responsible for 70% of FCPS budget, while state and federal aid comes to 19% and 1.2%, respectively. FCPS has done a good job of addressing persistent myths about funding in our schools:
Instruction-focussed budget: More than 85% of the FCPS budget is dedicated to instruction.
School-based Employees: 92.7% of FCPS employees are school-based.
Teacher Pay: FCPS teachers are paid less than they would be in surrounding school districts.
Cost-per-pupil: FCPS has kept the cost per pupil lower than most surrounding school districts.
People and businesses move to Fairfax County and remain in Fairfax County for the excellent schools. FCPS trains the next generation of doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, medical technicians, electricians, and police. Funding our schools and students, means we are funding the future of our county. It is important that we advocate for fully funding our staff, students, and schools.
Consider joining parents, staff, and citizens at the rally to support our schools before the April 22nd hearing at 4pm.
Prepared Meals and Beverage Tax (4% or less)
In 2024, Virginia passed a law permitting counties to establish meals taxes without a referendum. As a result, this year the board of supervisors announced a potential new meals tax to offset cuts at no more than 4%. It is likely to be finalized after the May 6-13 budget votes.
Nearly every county in and around Fairfax County has a meals tax, except for Loudoun County. None have seen a drop in visits due to the meals tax on restaurants, and Fairfax County estimates that more than 30% of the taxes will be paid by visitors. More information can be found here.
The public hearing on the proposed food and beverage tax will be held on Tuesday, April 22, aligning with the regular budget public hearings, which continue through Thursday, April 24.
Act Now
Your Board of Supervisors, the Chairman, and elected officials want to hear your views on the proposed budget. Please consider speaking at the public hearings or contact your elected officials directly. Sign up to speak at the public hearings on 4/22-24, or send input to the Chairman of the Board, your Board of Supervisor, and maybe even your state representatives to offer feedback (find your representative here).
Following public hearings, the board will mark up (make changes to) the FY 2026 Budget proposal on Tuesday, May 6, with adoption set for Tuesday, May 13. More information is available from the Department of Management and Budget.
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