Fairfax County executive proposes a lean budget for FY 2026
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill presented a proposed 2026 budget to the Board of Supervisors that would increase the real estate tax by 1.5 cents and cut spending by $60 million.
The FY 2026 Advertised Budget Plan would provide a $125.3 million increase in funds for Fairfax County Public Schools – far below the $268.3 requested by FCPS.
According to Hill, fully funding the FCPS request would require a 4.5 percent increase in the tax rate. He said the impact on taxpayers, the need for balance with other priorities, and the potential for additional state funding were all factors in determining the transfer amount.
The 1.5-cent real estate tax increase, which would bring the rate to $1.14 per $100 of assessed value, is projected to generate $50.93 million. Meanwhile, residential real estate assessments are up an average of 6.65% for 2025, further adding to homeowners’ costs.
Hill recommends the BoS consider a 4% meals tax, which would generate $65.1 million. The proceeds could be used to reduce the real estate tax rate to $1.12 or fund county priorities. He calls for the board to advertise a public hearing on the proposed food and beverage tax to coincide with the public hearings on the budget in April.
The budget proposal would increase the transient occupancy tax by 2 percent. That is expected to raise $13 million, with half allocated to tourism promotion.
Related story: Real estate assessments are up 6.6%
The budget allocates $123.6 million for employee pay and benefits, including fully funding collective bargaining agreements, a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment, performance-based pay increases, and longevity increases.
The budget would increase the county’s investment in affordable housing by $8.5 million.
Some of the major proposed funding cuts include the following:
- $11.5 million would be cut from the Police Department, including a $7.9 million reduction to realign staff workloads and $842,000 to eliminate crossing guards at high schools.
- The Fire and Rescue Department would be cut by $12.1 million, including a $5.6 million reduction in overtime pay
- $3.2 million and 12 full-time positions would be cut from the Department of Family Services, affecting public assistance programs, behavioral health assistance for children, and other programs.
- Funding for the Park Authority would be cut by $1.5 million. That would result in reduced maintenance of trails and athletic fields and fewer summer concerts, among other cuts.
- Funding for the Health Department would be cut by $2.1 million due to a proposed redesign of the school health program.
- $6.7 million would be cut from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, including elimination of the $3.9 million middle school afterschool program, decreased funds for adults with disabilities at senior centers, and elimination of the $440,000 Partners in Prevention program aimed at curbing youth violence.
- Funding for the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board would be reduced by $9.1 million by closing the Cornerstones and New Generations residential treatment programs for addicts and cutting services for people with developmental disabilities.
Hill told the board the budget cuts are necessary in light of the economic uncertainty caused by the reduction of the federal workforce. Fairfax County has more than 50,000 federal employees and numerous contractors.
“Even when revenue growth is sluggish, we cannot ignore our community’s desire for high-quality services or our employees’ expectations for fair pay increases,” Hill said. “Responsible budgeting is about balance, and this proposal seeks to strike the right balance in funding necessary expenditure increases, finding sensible reduction opportunities, and managing the impact on our residents.”
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez is hosting a town hall on the budget on March 26.
11 responses to “Fairfax County executive proposes a lean budget for FY 2026”
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The FY2026 budget proposed by the county executive ($5.696B) represents a 4.45% INCREASE over the adopted budget for FY2025 ($5.453).
Thanks Elon. love to pay more in tax and get less services because of your moronic meddling. at least the cuts don’t seem very drastic and make sense.
Blaming Elon for the counties decision? Wow.
And cutting 23.6 million from the police and fire budgets??? Who is the professor who agrees this is a good plan? Don’t blame Elon.
Long time Fairfax resident and taxpayer here. I’m also a dog owner and have been for the last 50 years. Since the county needs more money how about getting cat owners to pay for a yearly tag. I think it’s only fair. Many other jurisdictions.do it.
Look, I know it is not popular, but the last time we got to vote on a meals tax, I voted ‘yes’. I believe we need to diversify our tax base to reduce the burden on property owners. I don’t eat out much b/c of my budget. So, we can decide for ourselves if we want to pay that tax. Many on business travel will still eat out on their organization to help us out. But I am sure I will pay my fair share, as well, as I still do eat out. I know I am not considering the viewpoint of the restaurant owner, etc., but feel we have to do something. My raises are taken up by real estate tax increases and other inflationary items. Never feel like I get ahead. I am blessed but still concerned about the state of the yearly increases in my mortgage payment.
I think most people are worried about a meals tax going in and property taxes still going up. There’s no assurance that one will offset the other. Honestly the only assurance is that the BoS will see more $ and spend it
How about a loitering tax for all the migrants standing in parking lots along LRT?
How about a tax on too many kids per family by parents that don’t practice reasonable birth control.
These kids are breaking the County’s ability to educate our children and wasting way too much money for nothing but creating more pregnant and dumb teenage girls that walk around the schools hallways showing off their accomplishments.
Just wait, the Board of Supervisors will tell taxpayers they are going to give a break in the tax rate knowing (just like the County Manager) that if no changes to the tax rate was made the county STILL brings in more money due to assessments going up. How about zero budgeting where everyone starts at zero, no increases at all, look at current rates and income and that is the max available. All county programs live under that top line. Tough, but doable. It will have to be that way soon if much of the federal government is being moved out of the DMV, and more workers let go.
In other words, no more Covid memorials, no more pandering street renaming, no more arts hub, & no more passing the buck on making hard choices governing and living within our means.
We just saw residential real estate assessments rising an average of 6.65%, why should the real estate tax rate also be raised by 1.5 cents. That’s an 8% tax increase – Fairfax needs to start eliminating some expenses.
How about taxing residents who run their businesses from their residences at a commercial property tax rate higher than the residential rate. Oh and maybe prosecute those who misuse residential zoning? Near my home I see various businesses operated from residences including a towing service, a guest house/hotel, a dance studio, multiple painting contractors and a vehicle repair and used car sales business all operated out of residences.