In Difficult Year, Fairfax Budget Makes 'No One Happy'

Supervisors approve amendment to reduce average tax bill hike Tuesday but leave employee pay and schools funding unchanged.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a series of amendments to the Fiscal Year 2014 budget Tuesday including one that lowers the proposed real estate tax rate increase by a penny, a move that will cost the county $20 million in revenue. Supervisors voted 9-1 to adopt the amendments, noting that in a particularly tough budget year, the package was the best they were going to get. “I wince now when I read through my remarks from last year’s mark-up that we were ‘hopefully beginning to see the dawn of a new day,’” Chairman Sharon Bulova said in a statement. “The Fiscal Year 2014 budget is one that makes no one happy. It is, however, a responsible fiscal plan that reflects our current difficult situation.” The budget plan will …

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VIDEO: Local Officials Share What They're Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Captain Randy Joyce, commander of Mount Vernon Police District, share what they're looking forward to during the holiday season.

Some of your local officials share what they're thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. Upload your videos, photos and comments about what you're thankful for and your favorite part of the holiday season.

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Supervisor Herrity to Discuss Fairfax County Parkway Improvements

Herrity and members of the Springfield District Council will discuss improvements along Fairfax County Parkway and how it's affecting traffic.

Supervisor Pat Herrity, the Springfield District Council, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation will discuss the improvements taking place along Fairfax County Parkway during a town meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m.  at Robinson Secondary School. Although there are some successes with the improvements along this major road, it has caused significant congestion. The town meeting will take place to "get in front of the problem and establish a vision for its long-term future before we wake up and find the Parkway as congested as I-66," according to a recent news release. The following will be discussed during Tuesday's meeting:

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Fairfax County Parkway Meeting Tuesday

Residents can get information from the county and Virginia departments of transportation on current and future projects.

Residents will be able to get updates from the Virginia Department of Transportation and Fairfax County Department of Transportation on current and future projects at a town hall meeting Tuesday.  Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity will host the meeting for residents, which will focus in part on the future of the Fairfax County Parkway (formerly Route 7100, now Route 286) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Robinson Secondary School. For more information, contact the Springfield District Office at 703-451-8873, TTY 711.

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Richmond Not Likely to Help Transportation Funding Gap

State senator weighs in as Fairfax County kicks off public meetings about $3 billion shortfall.

Though state-level taxes are among the ways Fairfax County could help close a 10-year, $3 billion shortfall in transportation funding, Va. Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37) said in a community outreach meeting Tuesday he wasn't confident help from Richmond was coming. “It’s just very, very difficult in this climate in this country right now to raise taxes,” Marsden said. The remarks came as Fairfax County officials kicked off a series of public outreach meetings Tuesday in Springfield to gather input on how to address the shortfall. From now until fiscal year 2021, the county has $8.1 billion in needs but anticipates only $5.1 billion in revenues. That gap leaves a $3 billion deficit over 10 years, or $300 million per year. Tom Biesiadne, county …

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Navid Roshan

12:38 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

The problem becomes at the same time as wanting the public private partnership they are demonized as they have been in Tysons for "profiting developers" They profit everyone, and yes developers will make money but that is capitalism. At the end of the day everyone benefits. I think one of the bigger issues we need to look at here is what exactly are ALL of the projects and who do they really …   more ›

Defense Cuts, Washington Gridlock Focal Points of Kaine-Allen Debate

The two U.S. Senate candidates talked about sequestration and the economy in McLean Thursday.

MCLEAN — The potential $500 billion in defense cuts looming in Washington took center stage Thursday at the Capital One Conference Center during the first of three debates between U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen. The cuts — $1 trillion in total under the banner of "sequestration" — could cost the Old Dominion thousands of jobs, particularly in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Once meant as a stopgap measure, the continuing partisan divide in Washington has transformed them into a real threat. Kaine, a Democrat and former governor, presented his plan to solve the problem, which largely revolves around ending Bush-era tax cuts to individuals making more than $500,000 annually and cutting subsidies to the five largest …

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FCPS to Pay for Willow Springs Traffic Signal

The school system will also pay for a turn lane to improve traffic flow.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has agreed to pay for a traffic light at the Braddock Road entrance to Willow Springs Elementary School, according to officials who attended a community meeting at the school.  In addition, FCPS has agreed to pay for a right hand turn lane from the school onto Braddock Road to improve traffic flow. Parents and staff of Willow Springs were surprised when just week's before school started, the school safety signals at the school's entrance on Braddock Road were removed.  It is unclear who ordered them removed. Community members contacted Delegate Tim Hugo (R-40), who called a meeting at the school with Fairfax County Public Schools representatives, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Fairfax County…

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Photos: Eleventh Annual Springfield BridgeWalk

Community, Fort Belvoir Reaffirm Partnership at Springfield BridgeWalk

Fort Belvoir soldiers, Springfield-area business owners, local politicians, school groups and citizens marched across Veterans Bridge Tuesday evening for the 11th annual Springfield BridgeWalk. Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay organizes the event each year to affirm the support of the local community for those who serve in the military, especially those at Fort Belvoir and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir North. The BridgeWalk began in 2002 to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11 and to thank the men and women of the armed forces, he said. The Kings Park Concert Band played marches and patriotic tunes, as those who marched then gathered at American Legion Post 176 for the annual signing of the Army Community …

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Photos: Springfield Greets Paul Ryan

Congressman Paul Ryan campaigned August 17 at West Springfield High School.

For more information on Rep. Paul Ryan's campaign visit to Springfield, see these related stories on Patch. Stay current with all local news on Patch.  Subscribe to our newsletters.

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Republicans to Open Victory Office Saturday in Springfield

GOP headquarters in Springfield designed to help elect Mitt Romney, George Allen, Frank Wolf, Chris Perkins and Patrick Murray

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and former first lady Susan Allen will be on hand Saturday to help open a Republican campaign headquarters in Springfield. Herrity and Allen will participate in the grand opening of the office at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at 6320 Augusta Drive, Suite 900. The office, dubbed the Springfield Victory Office, will be a local headquarters for election efforts to help GOP candidates: Campaign donors in and around Springfield ZIP codes are giving to both presidential candidates, according to the Virginia Public Access Project: Elections are scheduled for Nov. 6.

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MizScarlettsMammy

11:07 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012

Oh, I think not!   more ›