Support For Schools, Caution On Service Cuts Highlight Fairfax City Budget Feedback Session

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City officials used an April 16 public engagement meeting to gather feedback on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, with participants ranking schools, infrastructure and public safety among the highest priorities and showing little support for reducing existing services.

The session was led by City Manager Dan Alexander and Chief Financial Officer JC Martinez. Alexander said the meeting was not a formal public hearing and not a repeat of the budget presentation already made to City Council. Instead, he said, the goal was to focus on key issues and collect input that could be brought back to council as the budget process moves forward.

The proposed budget is a “stability budget," he said, adding that it preserves current services, includes no new initiatives or service expansions and does not add new positions. He also noted the budget must be balanced under Virginia law.

To view a video of the April 16 Budget Engagement Meeting, go to the City Meetings page and scroll to the bottom.

Support for schools, capital commitments tied to school renovations and a community facility, and workforce investment are the main pressures shaping the proposal, according to Martinez. Those drivers would translate to a potential 9.6-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, but the city manager instead proposed a 2.5-cent increase, a half-percent increase in the meals tax and the use of $5 million in assigned fund balance. Martinez also said the proposal includes wastewater and stormwater rate changes.

Polling conducted during the meeting showed schools were the top priority among participants, followed by infrastructure and public safety. Martinez said the results would be shared with council before its next budget work session on April 28. He said council is scheduled to make a decision on the FY 2027 budget on May 5.

During public comments, former City Councilmember Janice Miller said the city should continue funding economic development because the share of revenue coming from the business community has declined over time.

Sandy Slappey Brown, who is a candidate in this November's City Council race, agreed adding, “Economic Development is a revenue generator.” Another speaker said the city also must keep taxes and licensing reasonable for businesses already operating in Fairfax City.

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Douglas Stewart, who represents the city on the Northern Virginia Parks and Recreation advisory board, raised concerns about employee compensation and benefits. Alexander responded that the budget includes studies to review classifications and compensation across the city workforce.

On trade-offs, Martinez said polling showed the strongest support for slowing or reducing projects or programs rather than cutting existing services. He said support for reducing existing services was at 0 percent on one question.

Residents also asked about the city’s use of fund balance and other revenue sources. Martinez said the unassigned fund balance is what rating agencies look at and said the assigned fund balance includes a Budget Stabilization Fund created to help offset increases in the school tuition bill. He said the city is also considering changes involving the meals tax, transient occupancy tax and business licensing.

Several speakers urged the city to consider a full-time climate and energy manager as a long-term cost and risk measure. Alexander said the city would continue discussing strategic investments, broader revenue options and expenditure pressures as the budget process continues.