Politics & Government

Alexandria City Manager's Budget Presentation Approaches: See Budget Timeline

Alexandria's budget will soon be proposed to determine city services and school funding as well as tax rates.

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Emily Leayman, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
City of Alexandria government has outlined its fiscal year 2025 budget process to determine city services funding, the allocation to schools and tax rates.
City of Alexandria government has outlined its fiscal year 2025 budget process to determine city services funding, the allocation to schools and tax rates. (Emily Leayman/Patch)

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria's budget process will begin this coming Tuesday to determine operating budget funding for city services and staff, public school funding, the real estate tax rate and more.

City Manager James Parajon will present the proposed fiscal year 2025 operating budget and updated 10-year capital budget at City Council's 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at City Hall, Council Chambers (301 King St.). The fiscal year 2025 budget covers the year between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

For homeowners, the real estate tax rate and real estate tax assessments factor into tax bills. In last year's budget, City Council approved a tax rate of $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, the same rate as the last year. However, the average residential tax bill was expected to increase due to higher property values.

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SEE ALSO: Alexandria Tax Base Sees Minimal Increase In 2024

The county's budget process also determines county funding for Alexandria City Public Schools. The Alexandria School Board was scheduled to vote on the ACPS combined funds budget on Thursday night. Much of the combined funds budget is the operating budget, which is proposed to increase 3.9 percent to $342.4 million. ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt's budget includes priorities of staff pay, increase of school-based staff positions, improving instructional alignment and rigor, funding for technology upgrades to address cybersecurity threats, preparing for the opening of the Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard campus in August 2024, and launching middle school athletics.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The final ACPS budget is subject to the city transfer decided by City Council in the city budget process.

Following the city manager's budget presentation, City Council will hold numerous meetings, including public hearings and work sessions on different areas of the budget.

Key dates in the budget process are:

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