Fairfax County residents gathered in front of the Fairfax County Government Center on April 22 to protest proposed tax increases at a rally organized by the Fairfax County Taxpayers’ Alliance. The protest coincided with the first day of public hearings for the county’s FY 2026 budget, which includes the largest real estate tax hike in a decade.
According to Rod Dyke, who spoke on behalf of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, “The supervisors don’t acknowledge that they are proposing an average 7.5 percent hike in real estate taxes… raising the average property tax bill from $8,659 to $9,312.” This dramatic increase comes on top of already rising property assessments, creating a double tax hit for homeowners.
The fiscal reality for many residents is becoming unbearable. One resident, Charles McAndrew, shared his personal tax burden at the hearings, noting that his real estate taxes have skyrocketed from $7,609 in 2015 to an estimated $11,770 in 2025—a staggering 65% increase over a decade.
To make matters worse, the county is now proposing a new 4% food and beverage tax on top of these increases. While officials claim this could offset some property tax increases, the Taxpayers Alliance points out that “even with the new proposed meals tax, real estate taxes would still increase by 6.2 percent.”
County leaders claim a projected $300 million budget deficit requires these tax increases, but conservative critics argue the problem isn’t revenue—it’s spending. One concerned citizen, Jeffrey Leach, called the budget “a car wreck” and criticized officials for mismanaging taxpayer resources. He presented compelling evidence of government bloat: while student enrollment increased by only 44% between 1985 and 2025, total school employees nearly doubled at 94%, teachers increased by 186%, and assistant principals by a whopping 306%.
In 2025, conservatives must fight back against these crushing tax burdens that are driving families out of the county. The rally demonstrates that citizens are waking up to the reality that Democratic county leadership continues to spend recklessly while expecting working families to foot an ever-growing bill. It’s time to demand fiscal responsibility, cut wasteful spending, and give hardworking taxpayers the relief they deserve!