Providence Meetings Set To Collect Input On FY2026 Budget Proposal

FAIRFAX, VA — Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik and school board member Karl Frisch will host a town hall meeting to answer questions and solicit input from their constituents about the Fairfax County fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.

During the Feb. 18 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting, County Executive Bryan Hill presented his FY 2026 advertised budget plan, which includes:

• nearly $60 million in spending reductions
• a 1.5 cent increase in the real estate tax rate,
• a 2 percent increase in the transient occupancy tax,
• an increase of $125.3 million over last year’s transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools,
• a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and performance-based pay increases for county employees, and
• an additional $8.5 million in affordable housing.

If the board of supervisors votes on May 18 to adopt the 1.5-cent increase per $100 of assessed value to the real estate tax rate, the average household tax bill would increase by $638 next year.

Related: Real Estate Tax Hike, 208 Staffing Cuts In Proposed Fairfax Co. Budget

To offset the real estate tax rate increase, Hill suggested that the county adopt a prepared food and beverage tax similar to those adopted by Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church, as well as the towns of Vienna and Herndon.

“The implementation of a 4 percent food and beverage tax would, in its first year, equate to 2 cents on the real estate tax in the first year and 4 cents on the real estate tax in subsequent years, and staff projects that 34 percent of food and beverage taxes are paid by non-residents,” according to an email Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman sent to his constituents.

There are several opportunities for residents to provide feedback on the budget proposal before the supervisors and school board members vote to adopt the final version in May.

In addition, each of the supervisors will host town hall meetings in their districts to answer constituent questions and gather feedback.

Providence District Budget Town Hall Meetings

• Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m.: The meeting will take place at the Jim Scott Community Center, located 3001 Vaden Drive in Fairfax. Interpretation, childcare, and transportation services will be provided upon request. Attendees are asked to register and request accommodations by March 5.
• Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m.: A Spanish Budget Roundtable will be streamed live on Channel 16 and Facebook.

On Feb. 20, the Fairfax County School Board adopted the FY 2026 Advertised Budget and on Tuesday, the budget committees for both boards will meet to hammer out the details of the plan.

FY 2026 Advertised Budget Schedule

• March 18: Board of Supervisors authorizes advertisement of FY 2026 tax rates and FY 2025
• April 22-24: Third Quarter Review Board of Supervisors holds Public Hearings on FY 2026 Budget, FY 2026-FY 2030 Capital Improvement Program, and FY 2025 Third Quarter Review
• May 6: Board of Supervisors marks-up FY 2026 Budget, adopts FY 2026-FY 2030 Capital Improvement Program and FY 2025 Third Quarter Review
• May 13, 2025: Board of Supervisors adopts FY 2026 Adopted Budget
• May 13: School Board holds public hearings on FY 2026 budget
• May 22: School Board adopts FY 2026 Approved Budget
• July 1: FY 2026 Budget Year Begins