April 30 Board Meeting Highlights | |
At Tuesday's meeting, the Board voted 9-1 to approve the marked-up budget that reflects and invests in our community priorities. This is the last step before final budget approval on May 7th. Thank you to all who have taken the time to meet with me and my staff, attend the Providence Budget Town Hall and Budget Public Hearings, and write and call my office to provide your feedback. As I've said before, this is a challenging budget year, with rising property values and inflation contributing to higher cost of living. I want to share some budget highlights below.
- The Real Estate Tax Rate is $1.125 per $100 assessed value.
- Funding for Fairfax County Public Schools of $165 million.
- Employee compensation increase ranging from 3.25% to 6%, including performance and longevity increase and a 2% market rate adjustment.
- Fully funds the contracts negotiated with the county's two public safety unions as part of the collective bargaining process.
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What's New in Providence? | |
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Diaper Drive
Did you know that diapers can cost up to $80/month per child? This significant expense forces families to make difficult choices between buying diapers and other essential household items.
I invite you to join in supporting our community and addressing diaper insecurity by donating any opened or unopened packages of diapers of any size. All collected diapers will be donated to Fairfax Diapers and Higher Horizons to help families in need. Your contribution can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Fairfax families.
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Oakmont Farmers Market
I had so much fun ringing in the new season at the Oakmont Farmers Market with Park Authority staff and volunteers! The Market is open on Wednesdays from 8 am to 12 pm. I hope to see you there to enjoy fresh local produce or drop off food scraps at the compost station!
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Health and Human Services and Housing Updates | |
Survey on Awareness of Services for Older Adults
Fairfax County Department of Family Services is seeking your input to help increase awareness of services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. Your participation in a survey will help in making improvements for how residents of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church find resources, programs, and information.
Users can select their language from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the survey screen. The survey is available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
The survey will remain open through May 9, 2024.
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Gains, Gaps, and Goals
On Friday, March 22nd, Fairfax County held an event, Gains, Gaps & Goals: The Status of Women and Girls in Fairfax County, which featured a presentation of research from the University of Virginia, a panel discussion from local business and community leaders, and an audience Q&A. Myself and other Board members joined an audience of professionals and community members interested in the findings.
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National Drug Take Back Day Results
On Saturday, April 27th our Fairfax County district stations joined forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other Fairfax County agencies to collect 1,167 pounds of expired medications and prescription drugs from the community during the 26th Annual National Drug Take Back Day Initiative!
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Land Use and Transportation Updates | |
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Data Center Community Meetings
The county is proposing updates to regulations on data centers, and introducing new guidelines on noise, building design, and setbacks. In March, the Board of Supervisors authorized staff to prepare a Zoning Ordinance amendment to strengthen current provisions for data centers while recognizing the economic benefit to the county. These proposed changes are part of a draft Zoning Ordinance amendment now open for public review. The goal is to better manage the construction and operation of these facilities as demand for data centers and the increased understanding of their potential impacts come into focus.
Residents are invited to participate in the review process by attending virtual meetings scheduled on May 6th and 8th.
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Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Amendments Related to Right of Way Afforded to Pedestrians
The Board will conduct a public hearing on May 7th at 4 pm to deliberate on proposed amendments to Article 9 of Chapter 82 of the Fairfax County Code to modify language related to the right-of-way afforded to pedestrians.
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I-66 Commuter Choice
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is accepting comments through May 13th on 15 of the proposed projects of the Commuter Choice program, which funds transit and other transportation projects to move more people.
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On the Road Together: Cyclist and Driver Safety Tips
As the warm weather of spring unfolds, cyclists are using our roads more frequently. It's important to ensure we prioritize safety for everyone, whether you're on two wheels or four. Some relevant tips to enhance road safety:
For cyclists:
- Visibility is essential.
- Stay predictable.
- Signal clearly.
- Protect your head.
- Stay alert.
- Be visible and predictable.
For drivers:
- Respect the gap.
- Check blind spots.
- Be patient.
- Stay vigilant.
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County Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Fairfax County Government consumed less energy for operations and produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal year 2023 than it has in any year since it started tracking data – a significant indicator in the county’s efforts to become carbon neutral by 2040. The county is working to make its operations greener and that includes switching to electricity to power its buildings – including from renewable sources like the sun – and using less water and energy overall. Data from the County Energy Dashboard shows those efforts are making a difference in shrinking the county’s carbon footprint and reducing its utility costs.
At my office, we compost our leftovers and compostable containers daily which has made a real difference in reducing our office carbon footprint. I encourage you to try it and learn more about composting here.
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Charge Up Fairfax
The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is now accepting applications to the Charge Up Fairfax program. Community associations in Fairfax County interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations for their residents are encouraged to apply to receive technical assistance and partial reimbursement to cover the costs of installation.
OEEC will host a Charge Up Fairfax webinar on May 3 at 3 pm. to address questions about the program and how to apply.
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Cox Communications Fairfax County Park Authority Recognition Campaign
Cox Communications and Cox Conserves, Cox's national sustainability program, are proud to announce that they will be recognizing the hardworking employees of the Fairfax County Park Authority in the first-ever “Outstanding Service to the Fairfax County Park System” campaign!
Take the survey below to nominate an employee who shows their love for our incredible natural resources. Five nominees with the strongest or most memorable submissions will be awarded a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of their choice from Cox and Cox Conserves!
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Environmental Excellence Awards
Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses, and county employees who:
- Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements.
- Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities.
- Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others.
The call for nominations for the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards is now open. Nominees’ achievements should have occurred between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, or over a period of years that include a portion of this time frame. Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 pm on June 9, 2024.
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Humans and Trees share a common enemy: Stress!
Humans and trees share a common enemy: stress! Some problems are unavoidable, but we can spare our trees from others. Read here about how to unstress your trees.
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GrowCon 2024
Are you ready to grow your business? GrowCon is a half-day, in-person conference designed to equip small businesses with the tools to recognize and capitalize on growth opportunities. The goal of this event on May 9th from 8 am to 12:30 pm in Vienna is to help small businesses grow and thrive in today's competitive marketplace.
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Talent Up Fairfax Fund
Fairfax County is proud to introduce the Talent Up Fairfax Fund, an incentive program aimed at connecting employers with qualified talent while providing valuable work-based learning opportunities to county job seekers. Learn more at the following webinars:
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Employer Information Session on May 15th at 11 am: Register Here.
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Jobseeker Information Session on May 31st at 11 am: Register Here.
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Patriots for Hire
Is your business looking to hire employees or interns? George Mason University's Career Services provides you access to well-qualified applicants. Mason students and alumni possess the latest industry knowledge and in-demand transferable and technical skills.
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