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Plan or program · on the record since 2024 · discussed in 15 transcribed meetings

FY 2026 Budget

The FY 2026 Budget covers the City of Fairfax's general and all sub-fund appropriations, the FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program, and the Schedule of Rates and Levies. 5 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.

approved

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2026–2030 is a multi-year municipal capital planning document covering infrastructure and facility investments. The process began in September 2024 when Superintendent Platenberg presented a draft to the School Board in work session, with a formal School Board presentation planned for October 4, 2024.

  • May 6, 2025City Council · item 3eapproved
    Consideration and appropriation of the FY 2026 Budget, Schedule of Rates and Levies, FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program, and establishment of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates

    The FY 2026 Budget, including all sub-funds, was adopted unanimously 6-0 after multiple failed amendments; the Budget Change Document was incorporated 4-3.

    failedMotion to defer consideration and appropriation of the FY 2026 budget to a date certain of May 13, 2025.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Read✕ Bates✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ Amos
    failedAmendment to set the real estate tax rate at $1.75 (resulting in reductions of approximately $500,000 for pay study implementation, $188,000 for merit increase, and ~$100,000 in nonprofit funding).
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    failedAmendment to defer the Willard-Sherwood community center expansion to the FY 2027 budget.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    failedAmendment to implement 50% of the pay study in FY 2026 and 50% in FY 2027.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    passedAmendment to incorporate all changes included in the Budget Change Document (Attachment I, previously published) into the main budget motion.
    ✓ Read✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ Hall✕ McQuillen✕ Peterson
    failedMotion to set the real estate tax rate at $1.0550 per $100 of assessed value, personal property and machinery and tools tax rate at $4.13 per $100 of assessed value, and personal property tax rate at $0.01 per $100 for qualifying volunteer fire/rescue members, effective January 1, 2025 (first vote).
    ✓ Bates✓ Amos✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✕ Hall✕ Peterson
    passedMotion to set the real estate tax rate at $1.0550 per $100 of assessed value, personal property and machinery and tools tax rate at $4.13 per $100 of assessed value, and personal property tax rate at $0.01 per $100 for qualifying volunteer fire/rescue members, effective January 1, 2025 (second vote).
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    passedMain motion to adopt the FY 2026 Budget (all funds), FY 2026 Schedule of Rates and Levies, FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program, FY 2026 health benefit contribution rates, 2.0% merit increase effective January 1, 2026 for eligible general scale employees, and programmed annual step increase for public safety employees, as amended by the Budget Change Document.
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    passedMotion to approve appropriation resolutions R-25-10 (General), R-25-11 (Capital), R-25-12 (Wastewater), R-25-13 (Transit), R-25-14 (Stormwater Utility), R-25-15 (Cable), R-25-16 (Old Town), R-25-17 (Transportation Tax), R-25-18 (ARPA), and R-25-19 (Debt Service) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    Watch this momentminutesagenda
in progress

The Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center is a joint City of Fairfax and Fairfax County project to redevelop the Willard Health Center and Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center sites at 3740 and 3750 Blenheim Boulevard into a new shared health, wellness, and recreation facility.

  • May 6, 2025City Council · item 3eapproved
    Consideration and appropriation of the FY 2026 Budget, Schedule of Rates and Levies, FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program, and establishment of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates

    The FY 2026 Budget, including all sub-funds, was adopted unanimously 6-0 after multiple failed amendments; the Budget Change Document was incorporated 4-3.

    failedMotion to defer consideration and appropriation of the FY 2026 budget to a date certain of May 13, 2025.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Read✕ Bates✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ Amos
    failedAmendment to set the real estate tax rate at $1.75 (resulting in reductions of approximately $500,000 for pay study implementation, $188,000 for merit increase, and ~$100,000 in nonprofit funding).
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    failedAmendment to defer the Willard-Sherwood community center expansion to the FY 2027 budget.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    failedAmendment to implement 50% of the pay study in FY 2026 and 50% in FY 2027.
    ✓ McQuillen✓ Hall✓ Peterson✕ Bates✕ Amos✕ Hardy-Chandler
    passedAmendment to incorporate all changes included in the Budget Change Document (Attachment I, previously published) into the main budget motion.
    ✓ Read✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ Hall✕ McQuillen✕ Peterson
    failedMotion to set the real estate tax rate at $1.0550 per $100 of assessed value, personal property and machinery and tools tax rate at $4.13 per $100 of assessed value, and personal property tax rate at $0.01 per $100 for qualifying volunteer fire/rescue members, effective January 1, 2025 (first vote).
    ✓ Bates✓ Amos✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✕ Hall✕ Peterson
    passedMotion to set the real estate tax rate at $1.0550 per $100 of assessed value, personal property and machinery and tools tax rate at $4.13 per $100 of assessed value, and personal property tax rate at $0.01 per $100 for qualifying volunteer fire/rescue members, effective January 1, 2025 (second vote).
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    passedMain motion to adopt the FY 2026 Budget (all funds), FY 2026 Schedule of Rates and Levies, FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program, FY 2026 health benefit contribution rates, 2.0% merit increase effective January 1, 2026 for eligible general scale employees, and programmed annual step increase for public safety employees, as amended by the Budget Change Document.
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    passedMotion to approve appropriation resolutions R-25-10 (General), R-25-11 (Capital), R-25-12 (Wastewater), R-25-13 (Transit), R-25-14 (Stormwater Utility), R-25-15 (Cable), R-25-16 (Old Town), R-25-17 (Transportation Tax), R-25-18 (ARPA), and R-25-19 (Debt Service) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
    ✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • May 5, 2025Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board · item 6
    Developing HHCAB's Workplan

    The FY 2026 Budget was noted as potentially not funding the Fairfax Renaissance program, leading to its removal from the HHCAB Work Plan.

    passedBring the City's draft Encampment Procedures to HHCAB for review so HHCAB can make recommendations to the Council
    ✓ Light✓ LaCroix✓ Delboy✓ Anderson✓ Bonaiuto✓ Vincent✓ Ihara✓ Jensen· Wilber✓ Derosier✓ Atwood✓ Gillespie✓ Napolitano· Cabelli✓ Cattaneo✓ Hatch✓ Opoku-Yeboah
    minutesagenda
in progress

The Pickett Road Connector Trail is a City of Fairfax trail project with a $6.5 million funding allocation, proposed on the eastern side of Pickett Road. The project drew public opposition from its earliest appearance on Council agendas in January 2025.

  • Mar 25, 2025City Council · item 7bin progress
    Public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget

    Public hearing opened on the proposed FY26 budget; the hearing was left open until April 8, 2025, with no Council action taken at this meeting. Council held a work session to discuss the proposed FY26 budget in detail; no formal action was taken.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
completed
  • Mar 3, 2025School Board · item 5in progress
    Superintendent Matters

    Superintendent Platenberg noted that the budget presentation to City Council was scheduled for the following evening. Chair Pitches asked about having FCPS CFO Leigh Burden present on FCPS FY26 budget proposals and cuts; Superintendent Platenberg reported Ms. Burden indicated it would be premature to present now but she is willing once impacts are finalized.

    minutesagenda
Other mentions
  • Oct 10, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6bin progress
    FY26 Budget

    Rates and levies have been updated but the FY26 budget is still a work in progress as of this meeting.

    minutesagenda
  • Nov 14, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6bin progress
    FY26 Budget

    Three enhancements were requested: $879,000 for staffing conversions, full funding of the City Jobs program, and $80,000 for Heritage programs, with additional requests for full-time positions and a future deputy director.

    minutesagenda
  • Jan 13, 2025School Board · item 2.03proposed
    Superintendent's Proposed FY2026 Budget

    [2.03] The Superintendent's Proposed FY2026 Budget was scheduled for presentation to the School Board at this meeting. [3.01] A public hearing on the Superintendent's Proposed FY2026 Budget was scheduled as item 3.01.

    agenda
  • Feb 3, 2025School Board · item 3.01approved
    FY2026 Superintendent's Proposed Budget – Public Hearing

    [3.01] The public hearing on the FY2026 Proposed Budget was closed with no public speakers. [4.02] The FY2026 School Board proposed budget was approved unanimously by the Board.

    minutesagenda
  • Feb 25, 2025City Council · item 4c
    Presentation of the City Manager's proposed FY26 budget

    City Manager Bryan Foster presented the proposed FY2026 budget, highlighting key initiatives including strategic goals, the FY26–FY30 Capital Improvements Program, and funding for the City School Board's tuition request and bond referendum renovations.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • Mar 4, 2025City Council · item 1a
    Joint Discussion with the School Board on the proposed FY26 Budget with a Presentation by Schools

    The City Council and School Board held a joint discussion on the proposed FY26 budget, with a presentation delivered by Schools staff. The City Council held a standalone discussion on the proposed FY26 budget during the work session; no formal action was taken.

    Watch this momentagenda
  • Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 7ain progress
    Public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget

    Public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget was opened with no council action; the hearing was left open until April 8, 2025. The proposed FY26 budget was discussed during the work session; no formal action was taken at this stage.

    minutesagenda
  • Mar 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7bin progress
    FY26 Budget Updates

    Parks and Recreation was asked to identify a 10% ($700,000) budget reduction as an exercise; staff is exploring revenue generation options while prioritizing staff retention.

    minutesagenda
  • Mar 17, 2025School Board · item 1.02
    Budget Reduction Exercise Discussion

    [1.02] The board discussed FY2026 budget pressures, with Chair Pitches noting the tuition bill constitutes 90% of the schools budget and refusing to cut instructional resources, staff, or programs; other board members concurred and raised concerns about timing and unknown federal funding.

    minutesagenda
  • Apr 1, 2025City Council · item 1a
    Discussion on the Proposed FY26 Budget

    The proposed FY26 budget was presented and discussed during the work session. No formal action or vote was recorded.

    Watch this momentagenda
  • Apr 8, 2025City Council · item 5c
    Public Hearing on the Proposed FY26 Budget (No Council Action)

    Public hearing held with testimony from numerous residents and stakeholders on topics including public safety funding, real estate tax increase, meals tax, arts funding, and trail/infrastructure spending. No Council action taken; budget adoption scheduled for May 6, 2025. Council held a work session discussion on the proposed FY26 budget; no formal action taken at this session.

    minutesagenda
  • Apr 10, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6d
    FY26 Budget – Update

    Current budget difficulties were cited as the reason for delaying the Old Town Hall presentation to City Council; no dedicated budget update was provided at this meeting.

    minutesagenda
  • Apr 22, 2025City Council · item 10b
    Work Session: Discussion on the proposed FY26 budget

    Council discussed the proposed FY26 budget during the work session. No formal action was taken at this meeting; budget-related public hearings and adoption are scheduled for May 6, 2025.

    minutesagenda
  • Sep 2, 2025School Board · item 2.01
    School Referendum-Capital Funding Analysis; Mr. JC Martinez, City of Fairfax CFO — Joint Discussion with Mayor and City Council Presentation

    [2.01] Referenced as the reason the School Board agreed to delay the Fairfax High School roof replacement; the delay was intended to ease FY26 budget pressures but has resulted in higher costs.

    minutesagenda

In full

Budget development began in fall 2024, with Parks and Recreation enhancements (staffing conversions, City Jobs, Heritage programs) discussed in November 2024. City Manager Bryan Foster presented the proposed budget to City Council on February 25, 2025, and a joint City Council–School Board discussion followed on March 4, 2025. A concurrent School Board budget process ran in parallel, with the School Board's FY26 budget approved unanimously in February 2025.

A budget-reduction exercise requiring departments to identify 10% cuts—roughly $700,000 for Parks and Recreation—was requested in March 2025, drawing resistance from both Parks staff and the School Board. Public hearings were held March 11 through April 8, 2025, drawing testimony on public safety funding, a proposed real estate tax increase, meals tax, arts funding, and infrastructure. On May 6, 2025, after a failed deferral motion and three failed amendments, the City Council adopted the FY 2026 Budget unanimously 6-0; the Budget Change Document was incorporated 4-3; tax rates and all ten fund appropriation resolutions (R-25-10 through R-25-19) were approved 6-0.

The meals tax rate was ultimately kept at 4% after Council expressed no appetite for the proposed 2% increase. The Fairfax High School roof replacement delay, agreed to in part to ease FY26 budget pressures, was later noted to have resulted in higher costs.