This past week, dozens of Fairfax County residents called, emailed and showed up in person, waiting hours for the chance to express their opposition to the outrageous real estate tax […]
This past week, dozens of Fairfax County residents called, emailed and showed up in person, waiting hours for the chance to express their opposition to the outrageous real estate tax increases proposed by the Democrat-controlled Board of Supervisors.
EMOTIONAL PLEA: WJLA reporter Nick Minock shared compelling testimony from a local mom who expressed her concerns about being able to afford living here with a growing family. CLICK HERE to read about the hearings, and scroll down to watch the video of the mother who had to shame the Supervisors to pay attention and listen to her!
EMBARRASSING! CHAIR JEFF MCKAY AVOIDS THE PRESS: In his effort to get a response from Chairman Jeff McKay to the onslaught of opposition to the tax hike, WJLA’s Nick Minock attempted to interview him at the Fairfax County Government Center. McKay entertained other media outlets but hid in his office and sent out his Chief of Staff to refuse the interview! It’s “must see TV”! CLICK HERE.
SUPV. PAT HERRITY OFFERS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS: Our lone Republican on the Board of Supervisors, Pat Herrity released a detailed discussion on affordable housing, or lack thereof, in Fairfax County and a critique of the current majority’s approach. For the full Herrity Report, CLICK HERE.
More people are leaving Fairfax County than coming to Fairfax County and affordability is a key reason. Outside of taxes, the most common affordability complaint I hear among residents of all ages is that housing in Fairfax County is too expensive.
I have been critical of the Board’s approach to this problem, which has primarily been to fund subsidized rental units on county land for a select few while all residents dealing with housing affordability are hit with the added tax burden of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the few government-subsidized units.
For example, a recently approved project of 500+ units will cost over $310 million (over $600,000 per unit) – and the average unit rent will be over $2,000/month. Worse, according to the most recent U.S. Census rental survey over 50,000 rental units in Fairfax County rent for less than $2,000. We are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize units for people who have other, market-based, alternatives, while disincentivizing developers from build cost-effective market rate units because the same developer can get tens of millions of dollars in subsidies and still charge market rents. READ MORE.
Arthur Purves, our 2023 Republican candidate for Chair of the Board of Supervisors and long-time activist with the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, testified last week as well. Read his statement and supporting research, “Biting The Hand That Feeds You”.
