Dranesville District Meetings To Collect FY2026 Budget Proposal Input

MCLEAN, VA — Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and School Board Member Robin Lady will be hosting two hall meetings 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 Bierman sent to Dranesville District residents.

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.

Dranesville District Budget Town Hall Meetings

• The first town hall meeting in the Dranesville District is scheduled for Friday, March 28, 6 p.m. at the McLean Community Center - Community Hall, located at 1234 Ingleside Ave. in McLean.
• The second town hall meeting will take place Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m., in the Herndon High School cafeteria. The school is located at 700 Bennett St. in Herndon.

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