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Development
One Journey to Make Pride Celebrations Across Northern Virginia Within Reach
Pride Month is a celebration of courage, community, and the freedom to live authentically. It’s a time to recognize the progress that has been made toward equality, while also honoring the resilience of LGBTQ+ people whose voices, stories, and advocacy continue to make our communities stronger.
Bringing the World Home: Au Pair Program Charms Families in Northern Virginia
The au pair program, specifically through organizations like Cultural Care Au Pair, is a cultural exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding between Americans and international participants that is facilitated by the US Department of State. Unlike traditional childcare, an au pair is a vetted young adult from another country who lives with a host family, providing personalized care while engaging in a deep cultural exchange, according to Cultural Care.
City FY2027 Budget: Taxes, BPOL, Meals Tax, and the Cost of Funding Growth
City of Fairfax, VA - The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) budget for City of Fairfax outlines a broad financial plan that increases funding for schools, infrastructure, and public services while relying on a diversified set of revenue sources. Rather than a single large tax hike, the city spreads revenue adjustments across property taxes, business taxes, meals tax, hotel tax, and utility fees, creating a gradual but noticeable increase in overall costs for residents and businesses.
Fairfax County Adopts $5.7 Billion FY2027 Budget, Slightly Lowers Tax Rate
Fairfax County, VA - Fairfax County officials adopted a roughly $5.7 billion FY 2027 General Fund budget, maintaining spending across schools, public safety, transportation, health services, and infrastructure while navigating rising costs in staffing, healthcare, and long-term capital needs. The Board of Supervisors approved the plan in May, along with a quarter-cent reduction in the real estate tax rate to about $1.12 per $100 of assessed value.
Community
Open Letter To Mayor and Council: George Snyder Trail (op-ed by Elisa Matos)
For those of you who were re-elected to office, you will recall my deep concern with all of the changes imposed upon Mosby Woods, from street renamings, to conversion of our neighborhood street to a neighborway, to an asinine proposal to construct a roundabout at the entrance to our neighborhood on a road which terminates in our neighborhood, to installing signs and reflective posts all up and down Fair Woods Parkway. These efforts were done in an attempt to facilitate bicycle traffic from the George Snyder Trail through our neighborhood to the other key points including the Vienna metro station. All along, we were told how important the neighborway was to the trail network, to bicyclists, and to overall connectivity.
Development
Changes to the Period of Validity for Zoning Approvals in Virginia
Local governments in Virginia have long granted approvals like special permits, site plans, and subdivision plats to allow property development. Usually, these approvals stay...
