Pay Raise Measure For Fairfax County Board Considered By Supervisors

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday morning to consider a pay raise increase for board members. The motion called for the advertisement of a new pay range for supervisors between $125,000 to $130,000 and $140,000 to $145,000 for the chairman.

Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who is not running for re-election this year, made the motion to raise the board members' salaries. The motion was seconded by Chairman Jeff McKay (At-Large) and Supervisors Kathy Smith (Sully) and Dan Storck (Mount Vernon).

The board is only allowed to adjust its compensation during an election year and any change they approved would be applied to the next board.

"Therefore, if the current board wishes to consider changing the salaries for the newly elected board to be seated on Jan. 1, 2024, then the current board must hold a public hearing and vote on the matter before April 15, 2023," he said.

Currently, supervisors are paid $95,000 and the chairman $100,000. County staff compared that to compensation of governing bodies in other large, nearby jurisdictions.

County staff also reviewed the pay increases county employees have received since 2015, plus projected compensation increases for the next two years using a 2 percent MRA [members representational allowance] and an average merit increase of 2.25 percent for 2024 through 2026.

Foust noted that board members were not eligible for county compensation increases nor do they accrue annual or sick leave.

"As a result of their analysis, staff has recommended that pay for the board members be increased up to $140,000 annually, which is consistent both with surrounding large jurisdictions as well as what board members' compensation would be if they had received the same pay increases the county staff received since 2015," Foust said.

Since the chairman's compensation averaged approximately 15 percent more than what board members were paid in surrounding jurisdictions, county staff recommended the chairman's compensation be increased to $161,000 annually.

"A reasonable compensation increase recognizes the growing responsibilities and expectations of this job and will help Fairfax County attract board members who are able to meet those demands reflect the age, gender and racial diversity of our county and who do not need to rely on outside employment or personal wealth to do so," Foust said.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the lone Republican on the board, spoke out against the motion. He mentioned the tradition of Virginia voters electing officials to represent them on a part-time basis. The increase that was being proposed made board members "10 mini-county executives trying to run the county."

"Our county police officers, they're not even at the average starting salary," he said. "We're going to take ourselves to the average of a select group of full-time [employees]. Our police officers, we haven't even addressed the fact that they're the lowest in starting salary. Alexandria and Arlington have both announced increases."

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn joined Herrity in opposing the measure, which the other supervisors and McKay voted to pass.

“I do not support raising supervisor salaries more than what county employees have received during the past 8 years," Alcorn said.

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik acknowledged that being a supervisor was public service, but the realities of the local economy made it difficult for people to live in Fairfax County without being properly compensation.

"I'm extremely disappointed that we don't yet have new candidates coming forward who are women, women of color, young women, young families of color, wanting to represent and be more representative of who our county is today in 2023," she said. "We can give all of the thoughts and support that we want for more women and more diverse candidates and younger families to to make that sacrifice. But we know that that's a lot to ask for, have a family when they're struggling with being able to afford this county with inflation, with the ability to make that sacrifice not just personally but for their entire family."

In approving Foust's measure, the board agreed to advertise a public hearing for March 21, at 4:30 p.m., to consider the compensation increase.

"The advertisement should include a pay range of $125,000 to $130,000 for board members and $140,000 to $145,000 for the chairman, both of which include a range that is lower than staffs recommendations," he said.

County staff was also directed to develop a mechanism whereby any board member who disagreed with the compensation adjustment could return any additional compensation to the county.

Staff was also directed to develop a process so that going forward compensation comparisons occurred every four years, so that future boards could consider compensation adjustments every four years rather than every eight.