On May 6, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors met and finalized the FY2026 budget in a 9-1 vote. Totaling $5.7 billion, the budget is set to be formally approved on May 13. The FY2026 budget was particularly precarious as the county had to balance funding shortfalls alongside the cuts implemented by the federal government.
“This budget was developed before the new administration took office. Thus, it did not contemplate the extensive economic instability which has been generated in such a short period of time,” chairman Jeff McKay said. “We understand that our residents are worried about their jobs, rising costs and the federal programs and services that they have come to rely on.”
The county also faced the $129 million gap in funding for FCPS for their requested increase of $248 million dollars. The county was unable to provide this funding, likely impacting the 7% pay raise for all employees proposed by FCPS.
“This request would have asked too much of our taxpayers, particularly given our current economic climate,” McKay said. “The Board believes that FCPS will still be able to provide sizable salary increases.”
To alleviate some burden on taxpayers, the county reduced the real estate tax rate by 0.25% to $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value. However, the county approved a meals tax starting for next year. The measure would tax any person eating at a restaurant by 4%, expanding the tax base of the county.
“I think that revenue diversification is a really good thing. Putting all our eggs into a real estate tax bucket is not sustainable,” said Jimmy Bierman, Dranesville District Supervisor. “The meals tax makes sense and I support it.”
This partially compensated for the rejection of reduction measures, totaling $50 million, proposed by the County Executive. Some of these included middle school after-school programs, which provide free after-school activities for students throughout the county.
“We worked hard to preserve or delay reductions that were of special interest to the community,” Bierman said. “We got creative on programs like middle school after-school.”
Both the raises and reductions to the budget were met with opposition from constituents. Restaurant owners opposed the meals tax, while teacher unions wished for the county to fully fund the FCPS pay raise.
“Rather than take responsibility or muster political courage, they [the Board of Supervisors] sought to divide a coalition that continuously urged them to fully fund FCPS,” said the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers in a May 7 statement.
The board eventually approved the proposed budget in a 9-1 vote, with the sole dissenter being Supervisor Pat Herrity of the Springfield District. Herrity, the only Republican on the Board of Supervisors, opposed the meals tax.
“Our residents have resoundingly told us twice that they oppose it,” Herrity said. “It’s also a single-industry tax on an industry that was just recovering from the pandemic. I’m not going to be supporting the budget.”
The rest of the Board conceded that the budget was difficult this year. They supported the passing of the budget despite the challenges it continues to face.
“We are in a situation where we can’t do everything,” said Kathy Smith, Sully District Supervisor. “We do need to take a hard look and see how we do things differently in the future. People depend on us to have [Fairfax County] continue to be a great place to live.”
