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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.
News
City Council Matters: Environment, Budget & Zoning (op-ed by Kate Doyle Feingold – former City Council Member)
There was a great win for the Fairfax City environment on Earth Day. And a great lesson for tireless residents who continued to speak up about taxpayer dollars going to build destructive, wide, paved roads through our dwindling forests.
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...
Business
Fairfax Cities Proposal to Increase Meals Tax – Op-ed by Bill Hamrock
This proposal will significantly hurt restaurants in Fairfax City. From my restaurant point of view customers will see this as a 12% tax. Currently Meals...
Opinion
Your Actions, Our Climate: Fairfax Needs You Now (op-ed by John Morrill, Director, Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC))
2024 was the hottest year ever recorded in Fairfax County. Extreme weather and high energy bills are hitting many households hard. From prolonged heatwaves...
City
Paul VI School Facade Preservation Update
The Paul VI school building may soon get the long awaited preservation treatment that has been long awaited by city residents. In December, the IDI Group Companies, the developers of Boulevard VI, sold the property to Virginia Epic Properties. A building permit has been filed with the City by Virginia Epic to revitalize the building while still preserving the facade. The project, dubbed the St Paul Project, includes a proposal to renovate the interior structure and replace the rear and side facade which are presently draped with an industrial grade covering.
News
Real Estate Taxes are Going Up This Year
Real Estate taxes are going up. The City Manager’s proposed budget increases the real estate tax rate by $0.095 to $1.125 per $100 of assessed value. For CY 2025, the average City resident’s (assessed value of $694,503) annual real estate tax bill would raise the average annual bill by $1,126.
