Article originally appeared here, at wjla.com
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Fairfax County is forecasting a nearly $300 million budget shortfall for 2026, an issue the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will have to address early this year.
“What is truly sad for our residents is that the Board knew this was coming,” Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity told 7News. “Not only have they refused to have an outside review of our budget as other boards have done, but they continue to increase spending on political agenda items and they spent all of last year’s surplus. Now they are going to be looking at cutting critical services including ambulances and park maintenance.”
The county says funding for collective bargaining agreements and pay increases to county employees are driving up costs while the county is receiving less money from nonresidential property taxes.
The county says Fairfax County Public Schools agreed to pay for a seven percent increase in pay for staff.
The county is forecasting a 1.8% increase in General Fund revenue which was bolstered by a 4.78% increase in residential property values. But the county explains that fails to offset rising costs.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is exploring implementing a food tax – which has been rejected by Fairfax County voters twice.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors may look at raising residential property taxes again. In recent years, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has raised property taxes on homeowners despite residents asking the elected officials to stop raising their taxes because the cost of living in Fairfax County is already too high for many residents.
In a presentation prepared by county staff, the county says it is exploring potential budget reductions and that early estimates suggest that $33 million in cuts could be made, but that the reductions would lead to service and program reductions.
In 2024, 7News reported that Fairfax County had a $240 million surplus.
In recent years, Fairfax County has had massive surpluses. However, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors spent much of the surplus money on projects deemed important to the elected officials.
One of those projects Fairfax County is planning to move forward with is a COVID memorial which has been a priority for Chair Jeff McKay.
In the past, residents have also raised concerns that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave themselves massive raises despite their positions being part-time.
In 2023, McKay voted to give himself a nearly $40,000 raise bringing his salary compensation to $138,283. Other Fairfax County Supervisors made $95,000 a year and they voted to increase their salary to $123,283 in 2023.
McKay also gave himself a county-owned car to drive, becoming the first Chairman in the county to do so. As a result, he doesn’t have to pay car taxes on the county car he drives even though he sets the car tax rate for everyone else in the county.
In April 2023, 7News reported that Fairfax County residents expressed concerns that McKay was using his county car for personal reasons.
”There needs to be an accounting of why a county goes from a surplus to a deficit,” said David Williams, the President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
“What does that say to you about their fiscal management of tax dollars?” 7News asked Williams.
“This deficit should be a red flag for the Board of Supervisors,” said Williams. “This is a financial problem in Fairfax County, and they have to address it now. They have two options. They can either cut spending or raise taxes. If you raise taxes, you are going to chase people out of the county.”
“What do you think about their behavior, giving themselves raises?” 7News asked Williams.
“When you are getting a huge salary increase, when you are getting all these added benefits and perks, it shows just how out of touch you are with the people that you’re supposed to represent,” said Williams.