🌱 Fairfax Co. $5 Billion Spending Plan + Woodbridge Teen Killed

Morning, everybody. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Mount Vernon Patch newsletter — here to explain everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Including news about...

• Fairfax County proposes $5 billion budget for 2024, school funding increase
• Woodbridge teen killed and man injured in Maryland car accident
• Old Town Alexandria implements slow zone for scooters, e-bikes

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Partly sunny. High: 80 Low: 52.
• Friday: Mostly sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 54 Low: 29.
• Saturday: Rain in the afternoon. High: 40 Low: 33.
• Sunday: Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 60 Low: 36.

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Here are the top five stories in Mount Vernon:

1. Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill has proposed a $5 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 5.76 percent increase over the 2023 budget. The proposed budget includes a $144 million increase for Fairfax County Public Schools and over $92 million for county employee pay and benefits. While the proposed property tax rate will remain at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, the average annual tax bill is expected to increase by over $520 due to rising assessments. (Subscription: The Washington Post)
2. Maryland State police are investigating a fatal car accident that occurred on Tuesday morning on the eastbound lanes of the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County. The crash resulted in the death of an 18-year-old Woodbridge woman, Tera King, who was driving a Chevrolet Cobalt that veered off the road and hit an embankment and tree. A 20-year-old male passenger was also injured in the accident and taken to Suburban Hospital. (Inside NoVA)
3. Starting Feb. 21 and ending May 21, the City of Alexandria is implementing a slow zone to limit the speed of dockless scooters and e-bikes in Old Towne. The pilot slow zone will have an 8-mile-per-hour speed limit and will cover neighborhood streets, Point Lumley Park, and the pedestrian walkway and promenade nearby. The slow zone aims to improve street and sidewalk safety in areas that experience heavy traffic. (WUSA9.com)
4. A man upset by his neighbors’ barking dogs was arrested for allegedly throwing poisoned meat into their yard in nearby Alexandria earlier this month. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria responded and confirmed that the meat contained rat poison. John Romano has been charged with attempting to maim or kill animals, a class one misdemeanor. (WTOP)
5. The Fairfax County Fire Department responded to several outside fires in nearby West Springfield on Tuesday evening due to strong winds in the area. Crews extinguished the fires on Old Keene Mill Road and continued to water down hot spots. No injuries were reported, and the road was shut down for about an hour but has since reopened. (WUSA9.com)

Coming up in and around Mount Vernon:

Thursday, February 23

• Interesting Facts About Mt. Vernon And Whiskey Tasting At Nepenthe Gallery (6:00 PM)

Friday, February 24

• Mount Vernon Children's Theatre Presents: As You Like It At Heritage Presbyterian Church (7:00 PM)

Saturday, February 25

• Feel The Heritage Festival At Charles Drew Community Center (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Astro Beer Hall is set to open its doors in May in nearby Shirlington, featuring a large rectangular bar with a movable glass wall that opens to a sidewalk patio, a wide selection of draft beers, food, and two pool tables. The establishment will have a large arcade section with the latest arcade games and will be space-themed with artwork and murals to match. (ARLnow)
• The Alexandria Choral Society (ACS) will perform its spring "American Fragments" concert on Mar. 11 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Following the concert, ACS will hold its annual gala and silent auction in the Memorial's Grand Hall, featuring items contributed by area restaurants and shops. (The Zebra)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Mount Vernon area! Get all the property details at the link. (Patch)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.