Board Of Supervisors Adopts 2014 Budget

By a vote of 9-1, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the budget for fiscal year 2014.  The approved budget will raise real estate taxes by 1% this year, a minor change from the 2% tax hike proposed by County Supervisor Ed Long. 

 

While the Board decided against any employee raises for the next year, it did provide seed money to several new service programs, including a plan to place mental health professionals in the county’s school system.  In addition, a special rainy day fund has been set aside by the County to serve as a buffer against future economic impacts from the sequestration defense spending cuts occurring at the federal level. 

Planned cuts in public safety were also averted under the amended budget.  The Board opted to restore funding for logistics personnel at four police stations, as well as the restoration of funding for security at certain Juvenile and Domestic Relations cases. 

 

For more information, go to:

 

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/fy2014-budget-markup-package.pdf

Catching Up With Fairfax

It's been a while since I updated: Obviously, a lot going on in Fairfax right now. The FY 2014 budget is right around the corner, and Governor McDonnell is about to sign or veto the 2013 legislation from the General Assembly.  Sequestration impacts are also looming. But until all that big stuff happens here are a few morsels to hold everyone down.

Governor McDonnell Submits Amendments To Drone Moratorium:  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) submitted amendments to a proposed law that would impose a moratorium on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in Virginia.  The Governor’s amendments would allow colleges and universities to conduct research on drone aircraft, and would also allow law enforcement to use drones for certain tasks such as search and rescue operations, or to search for a missing person.  The General Assembly will re-convene for a special one day session on Wednesday to vote on the measure.

Governor Amends Transportation Bill: McDonnell also proposed an amendment to the proposed overhaul of the state’s transportation system.  McDonnell’s proposed amendments would reduce new transportation funding by about $80 million over the next five years.  In addition, the Northern Virginia portion would also be reduced by about $70 million over five year.  McDonnell’s amendments did not alter the plan to substitute the gas tax for a heightened sales tax to cover the items.  Overall, Northern Virginia residents will see sales taxes increase by around 6% after the changes are enacted.

Serial Groper Caught On Camera: GOTCHA! It looks like the infamous serial groper, renowned for inappropriately grabbing some 24 women in Fairfax has made a potentially fatal mistake.  Newly released video footage from a local Home Goods store shows the groper entering and leaving the store after committing another attack. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJK_E7cS_Bs&feature=player_embedded

Armed Robber Caught On Video: In another brazen display of criminality, a masked individual armed with a shotgun robbed a woman at an ATM in the Tyson’s Corner area last week.  Surveillance video of the incident has also been released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgG4O7aQVmw&feature=player_embedded