FY 2025 Budget Proposal Public Hearings, Work Sessions Scheduled

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County government released a schedule of public hearings and work sessions as part of the review and adoption process for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.

On Saturday, County Manager Mark Schwartz submitted a $1.62 billion budget plan for FY 2025, which was a 4.7 increase over the FY 2024 budget that the Arlington County Board approved last year.

On Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to advertise a real tax rate of $1.038 per $100 of assessed value. This is 2.5 cents more than homeowners will pay in calendar year 2023 and 1 cent more than Schwartz recommended in his budget plan.

APS Superintendent Francisco Durán will be presenting his FY 2025 budget proposal during Thursday's school board meeting, which takes place 7-9 p.m., at the Syphax Education Center at 2110 Washington Blvd. The meeting can be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FIOS Channel 41. It will also be live-streamed.

Members of the public will have two chances to provide feedback on the FY 2025 budget proposal. The first public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m., on April 2 and April 4, which a budget wrap-up session on April 11, from 3-5 p.m. Final budget decisions will be made during the April 16 budget mark-up session, from 3-5 p.m. This will be the last meeting before board members vote to formally adopt the final budget on April 20.

Members of the public who wish to sign-up to speak at a budget public hearing can do so online.

All work sessions and public hearings are open to the public and will be live-streamed and broadcast on Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FIOS Channel 41.

The following is Arlington County's meeting schedule for the FY 2025 Budget approval process:

Date: Tuesday, March 5
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Topic: Clerk of Circuit Court, General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Circuit Court Judiciary, Magistrate, Office of Public Defender, Treasurer, Commissioner of Revenue

Date: Thursday, March 7
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Topic: Technology Services, Economic Development, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
Columbia Pike Partnership, Langston Boulevard Alliance, Clarendon Alliance

• Commissions – Technology Advisory Commission, Arts Commission, Economic Development Commission
• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) - Ballston BID, Clarendon Alliance, Columbia Pike Partnership, Langston Boulevard Alliance, National Landing BID, Rosslyn BID

Date: Tuesday, March 12
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Topic: Department of Environmental Services (General Fund, Stormwater Management Fund, Utilities Fund, Auto Fund, Printing Fund, Ballston Garage Fund)

• Commissions – Climate Change, Energy and Environment (E2C2), Transportation

Date: Thursday, March 14
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Topic: Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development (General Fund, Housing and Community Development Fund, CPHD Development Fund)

• Commissions – Aging, Board of Zoning Appeals, Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee, Community Services Board (CSB), Disability, Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), Housing, Planning, Status of Women, Tenant-Landlord

Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Topic: Fire, Police, Public Safety Communications & Emergency Management, Sheriff

• Commission – Community Oversight Board

Date: Friday, March 22
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Topic: Schools -County Board and School Board Joint Budget Work Session
(School Board budget adoption is scheduled for May 9)

• Commissions – Partnership for Children, Youth and Families

Date: Tuesday, April 2
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Topic: Department of Parks and Recreation, Libraries, Compensation, Electoral Board

• Commissions – Civil Service, Forestry and Natural Resources, Human Rights, Parks & Recreation, Sports

Date: Tuesday, April 2
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Topic: Budget Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, April 4

Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Topic: Pay-As-You-Go Capital, Short-term Finance, GO Bonds, Transportation Capital Fund, CC TIF, Debt Service, Metro

• Commissions – Transportation

Date: Thursday, April 4
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Topic: Tax Rate (s) Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, April 11
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Topic: Budget Wrap-up

Date: Tuesday, April 16
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Topic: Final Budget Decisions / Mark-up

Date: Saturday, April 20
Topic: Budget Adoption

At the February County Board Meeting, the County Manager provided an overview of the FY2025 Proposed Budget to the County Board. A recording of the Manager's presentation is available here. The County Board will hold work sessions with most County agencies and advisory commissions to discuss the Manager's recommendations. No final decisions will be made on any budget topic until the Board adopts the FY 2025 budget in April 2024.