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FFXnow

By Angela Woolsey

Fairfax County officials are guarding their wickets carefully as they size up a recent pitch for a possible cricket and baseball facility at George Mason University.

The Board of Supervisors directed county staff last week to monitor and get involved in a feasibility study that Mason and Major League Cricket (MLC) initiated in November.

Since the study is still in its early stages, major questions remain, including what sites are being considered, but there is definitely demand for a regulation cricket pitch, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said.

“I’m just interested in seeing if we have the opportunity to at least have a conversation and to see if there’s any feasibility on this coming to fruition,” Lusk said during the Feb. 21 meeting. “…There are many in the community who have been asking for this and would really enjoy having this opportunity to play cricket in a facility of this nature.”

GMU announced on Nov. 29 that it’s collaborating with MLC to study the possibility of building a multi-purpose facility that could host international-level cricket games as well as the university’s baseball team.

Funding for the study comes from technology entrepreneur Sanjay Govil, a founding investor in MLC, according to the press release. The group aspires to have an operational facility that would serve as a home for an MLC franchise by summer 2025.

A regulation cricket field is the size of three baseball fields, making it “extremely difficult to assemble” within the Fairfax County Park Authority’s standard field dimensions, Lusk and Herrity said in their joint board matter.

“This innovative approach has the potential to fill a recreational void in our community, provide a multi-use amenity of benefit to the entire county, and generate a meaningful economic impact as the sole facility of its kind in the region,” the board matter said.

In the community immediately surrounding GMU’s Fairfax campus, however, the proposal may face an uphill battle.

Though he expressed support for both GMU and cricket, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw warned it will be “really important to manage this process” to avoid a repeat of “some decisions that the university made that created some real challenges and animosity in the neighborhoods.”

He didn’t specify which decisions he was referring to, but he noted that the proximity of Mason’s existing athletic facilities on the west campus to residential neighborhoods “has presented a lot of challenges over the years.” In addition, one possible, currently undeveloped site at Braddock and Shirley Gate roads is in the Occoquan Watershed.

The new facility’s potential traffic impact could also be an issue. An extension of Shirley Gate Road from Braddock to Fairfax County Parkway is in the works, but that’s about it for planned road improvements in the area, according to Walkinshaw.

“If we’re going to be building a facility here that will bring large groups of people, the university’s got to take some responsibility for how people are going to get to and from the campus, because the existing transportation network doesn’t support it,” he said.

Board Chairman Jeff McKay concurred that the county needs to approach the proposal “with our eyes wide open,” noting that GMU-owned properties aren’t subject to local land use review processes like private or county developments.

The One University and Capstone housing projects near the university campus, for instance, may have ruffled feathers, but the public was still guaranteed opportunities to provide input.

“Unlike the county, [GMU doesn’t] go through our regular land use process,” McKay said. “That’s one of the reasons you’re hearing some of the caution flags about making sure this process works right and the board is informed of what’s going on.”

Reston Now

The proposed 2024 budget has real estate taxes once again increasing for many, as home values across Fairfax County continue to rise.

At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, County Executive Bryan Hill presented his proposed fiscal year 2024 budget. The $5.1 billion budget is up $280 million from last year — an increase of about 6%, largely due to real estate taxes going up.

While the budget calls for the tax rate to stay the same as last year at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, the average bill is set to increase by about $520 for homeowners, thanks to a nearly 7% rise in real estate assessments.

Hill warned in November that assessments were likely to go up, and Board Chairman Jeff McKay told FFXnow last month that he expected real estate taxes to be a big discussion point during the budget debate. But the extent of the increase nonetheless elicited strong reactions from supervisors.

McKay said that, given last year’s numbers, the tax rate is “far too high,” while Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity called the increase “unacceptable.” They signaled strong support for finding a way to provide residential tax relief to residents.

The proposed budget includes $90 million in unallocated funds that can be used at the “Board’s consideration.” A huge chunk of this, if not all, could be used to lower residents’ tax burden in some form, as was the case for the current fiscal year 2023.

The county’s budget continues to rely on real estate taxes, more than three-fourths of which come from residential property owners.

Nonresidential real estate values also increased this year, but by less than residential values. This means that real estate taxes make up more of the tax base than in FY 2023, increasing by about 0.75%.

While seemingly a small tick up, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said the trend is going in the wrong direction and that commercial real estate taxes should make up at least 25% of the tax base. It currently only makes up just over 16%.

“Clearly, we are off. It’s not good and very disconcerting,” he said. “We need a plan or a strategy to address these issues.”

Hill’s budget plan proposes a $144 million increase in funds provided to Fairfax County Public Schools, which typically gets over 50% of the overall budget. That represents more than a 6% hike from FY 2023, which began on July 1, 2022.

The FY 2024 Advertised Budget proposal includes a 6.3% or $144.1 million increase for @fcpsnews in addition to support for programs like Head Start, school health, behavioral health services, crossing guards, field maintenance and other costs. pic.twitter.com/8cNyztgNbJ

— Fairfax County Government (@fairfaxcounty) February 21, 2023

But that number is about $15 million lower than what Superintendent Michelle Reid initially requested.

As expected, the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers doesn’t agree with this proposal, writing in a statement that it “strongly encourages the Board of Supervisors to fully fund the FCPS budget request.”

One of the bigger questions hanging over this year’s school budget is if the state will rectify a calculation error expected to lead to FCPS getting about $18 million less than anticipated. That includes about $13 million missing from the FY 2024 budget.

It remains unclear if the state will reimburse the missing money, or provide any extra, from its $2 billion surplus. When Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust asked when the state will make a decision on its budget, a few chuckles arose from staff about the uncertain situation.

Christina Jackson, Fairfax County’s chief financial officer, said the county is optimistic and is in a “better position” to see much-needed funds headed their way from the state.

As anticipated late last year, this year’s budget process may be one of the “one of the most challenging” in years. This is due to inflation, staff retention challenges, and surging real estate values.

“Balancing the impacts of inflation, the labor market and other economic pressures with the need to fund critical programs and services has made this a difficult budget year,” Hill said in a county press release. “But I am very proud of the work of our budget staff and all our employees in managing through these challenges and moving forward to meet the needs of our residents.”

Hill led off his presentation to the board by emphasizing that the aim of this year’s budget is maintaining and “stabilizing our core,” meaning county staff and existing programs.

“I know that the Board remains concerned about the retention and recruitment issues that our agencies have been facing over the past two years, and I have spent considerable time with my leadership team developing ways in which to tackle these issues,” Hill wrote in his budget message to supervisors.

In the budget is a $134.5 million increase in county disbursement, including a 2% market scale adjustment for most county employees. That’s lower than even what staff had recommended in order to stay competitive in hiring and retention. They had calculated a rate of 5.44%.

“The proposed Fairfax County budget misses the mark when it comes to giving workers the wages we deserve, ” Tammie Wondong, SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax’s president and a 33-year county employee, said in a statement. “In fact, when the county funds the market rate adjustment (MRA) at only 2% when it should be 5.44%, let’s call it what it is — a pay cut.”

Inflation also adds $18 million to the budget this year, associated with cost increases to cover utility and information technology contracts and lease adjustments.

Supervisors will host a number of public meetings over the next few months to allow residents a chance to provide feedback on the proposed budget.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote and adopt the FY 2024 budget on May 9.

WJLA

By Nick Minock

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — The 2024 budget battle in Fairfax County has begun with a big focus on taxes.

On Tuesday, Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill proposed a flat tax rate for real estate taxes.

But if that’s adopted, that means Fairfax County homeowners will still likely pay higher real estate taxes because real estate tax assessments are soaring, as some supervisors acknowledge.

“It’s a seven percent increase on our residents. It’s totally unacceptable,” said Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity.

Herrity is concerned people are leaving Fairfax County already because of high taxes.

“Many of them are already voting with their feet and leaving,” he said. “They are already facing inflationary pressures. And you throw on top of that a recession, and a huge tax increase, we shouldn’t be doing that to our residents, especially at this time.”

Herrity says taxes don’t have to go up in Fairfax County. He said taxes could go down if the Board of Supervisors wanted to reduce taxes.

“I advocated for spending restraint last year,” said Herrity. “We knew this was coming. Our commercial tax base is in the toilet. And is going to be further reduced. Pandemic spending is coming to an end. We really have to look at spending restraint. And we have to look for ways to be more efficient with our money and focus on our priorities.”

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay says the County Executive’s budget proposal is the first step in a month’s long process.

“We can’t dictate the value of homes. What we can dictate is what the tax rate is,” said McKay. “What the County Executive’s budget had in there was about a $90 million balance that is unused in his budget proposal. And so what we will likely do and what my hope is the board will do is use that $90 million to reduce the tax rate to try to accommodate for some of that assessment increase.”

McKay says that after hearing from Fairfax County residents at upcoming town halls, the Board of Supervisors will likely adopt a different budget.

Budget public hearings are scheduled for April 11 and April 13.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to make changes to the County Executive’s budget proposal on May 2 and is set to finalize the budget on May 9.

The budget proposal includes a $144 million increase for Fairfax County Public Schools.

“This budget funds the request that they [the Fairfax County School Board] made to the Board of Supervisors,” said McKay. “What we don’t know yet is what will happen at the state level with the state budget. And so clearly, if the schools end up with more revenue coming from the state, then my objective will be to make sure that revenue gets to the county and hopefully we can use that for further tax relief. But the County Executive’s proposed budget fully funds the schools, obviously we won’t know the answer to that until the Board of Supervisors adopts their budget, but his proposal includes fully funding the school spending request.”

Meanwhile, Herrity is concerned the proposed budget for Fairfax County Public Schools spends too much money in administrative costs.

“I think we need to look at our enrollment numbers and I think the enrollment projections are a little high that the schools have come forward,” said Herrity. “We need to focus our resources on our teachers and into the classroom and I’m not sure this budget does. This budget puts a lot of money into administration. And we need to get that back into the classroom, onto the teachers and students.”

7News asked McKay if the county intends to raise police officer pay as the Fairfax County Police Department continues to face an officer shortage as several categories of crime rise.

“Clearly there’s going to be a pay increase,” McKay said. “That won’t be known until the board adopts their budget. What the County Executive has proposed is a 2% market rate adjustment for every employee in the county. And then he has fully funded merit step and longevity, which are very important to the police department and those pay increases will depend on where somebody is in our county system, what their rank is, whether they’re eligible for a merit or longevity increase. And so one of the things that I asked for in there is the data. Right now, we’re looking at an average county employee salary increase in the proposed budget of over 4%. But we know no one is average. So, some people will be below that. A lot of people will be above that. And what we don’t know yet and I’ve asked for the data is how that actually affects county employees, including police officers and what ranks so that we can then go in as a board and make potentially further adjustments.”

Last year, 7News (WJLA) was the first to report that FCPD’s police chief declared a personnel emergency amid staff shortages.

Herrity says the County Executive’s proposed budget does not address the police shortage in Fairfax County.

“No, not fully,” said Herrity. “It doesn’t even really start to address it. There’s nothing outwardly that talks about our shortage in police officers, mental health professionals, or paramedics. We really need to look at that.”

Overall, McKay said the proposed budget is a “mixed budget.”

“There’s some good economic indicators in there,” said McKay. “There’s also some challenges ahead. I think anyone in the country is dealing with some of the same challenges that we’re dealing with. Obviously, commercial office space, which is a big revenue driver for the county is down, but we’re seeing some other areas of real estate that are up, I think the biggest challenge for us moving forward is residential assessments continue to go through the roof and we are very well aware of the economic impact that has on our residents. And so, what the board is going to have to do in the weeks and months ahead with the community’s help, is try to strike a balance between making sure we provide services, compensate our employees and maintain our AAA bond rating and fiscal reputation. At the same time, provide tax relief for soaring residential real estate assessments. That’s what I’m going to be focused on like a laser and it’s what we’ve already preliminarily heard from the community.”

You can see the County Executive’s proposed budget for 2024 here: Inflation, Labor and Real Estate Markets Impact County Executive’s FY 2024 Proposed Budget | News Center (fairfaxcounty.gov)

Centre View

By Del. Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

With less than two weeks remaining on its scheduled adjournment sine die on Feb. 25, the General Assembly will be working overtime to resolve differences between the House and Senate on major issues, with reconciliation of differences on budget amendments being top on the list. Top on the list of budget amendment differences is the handling of the Governor’s amendments to the existing budget. As the Commonwealth Institute summarized the issue, “the Governor’s proposed budget amendments would let 245 corporations with taxable incomes over $10 million pay a lower tax than a starting teacher who makes $42,500 a year or a health care support worker who makes $31,400 a year.” I along with other House Democrats voted against the Governor’s amendments, but the Republican-controlled House included them in the budget. The Senate did not include them. Altogether the Governor proposed more than a billion dollars in tax cuts, none of which were accepted by the Senate. These cuts would take money away from critical funding needs in education, mental health, Medicaid, and public safety among others. A balanced budget must be presented before the Assembly’s work is finished for the year.

In a major step forward for health care reform, a House bill is likely to pass this session that would carry a $62 million dollar budget investment to ensure nursing homes are properly staffed with nurses and aides. The Senate defeated all abortion bans and restrictions. The House did not even put these bills on an agenda in order to protect their members who face close general elections from having a recorded vote on bills that would fail in the Senate regardless. The Senate passed a constitutional amendment that would put the right to reproductive freedom into the State Constitution, but it failed. In the House, efforts to remove outdated language from the State Constitution failed. Along with other House Democrats, I voted against two bills targeting transgender youth that passed the House on a narrow vote. They are likely to be defeated in the Senate.

This session of the General Assembly may be among the least productive in recent history. With the Republican House majority taking their lead from a presidentially aspiring governor it is picking up on popular conservative positions. Their efforts will be in vain as the Democratic majority in the Senate will stop their attempts to roll back progressive measures passed by the Democrats over the last two years.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized the efforts of cross country teams from West Springfield and Woodson high schools.

Patch

By Michael O’Connell

FAIRFAX, VA — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions honoring the West Springfield Girls and W.T. Woodson Boys Championship Cross Country teams at its meeting on Tuesday. The resolutions were requested by Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisors James Walkinshaw, Penny Gross, Dalia Palchik, Pat Herrity and Rodney Lusk.

Under Coach Christopher Pellegrini, the girls cross country team at West Springfield High School capped off a highly successful fall 2022 season by winning the Virginia High School League Classic Championship on Nov. 12, at the Oatlands plantation in Leesburg, according to the resolution.

On the way to winning their second state championship, the Spartans racked up wins at the Patriot District and Occoquan Regional Championships. In addition, four runners placed among the top 15 finishers in the championship race.

The team was led by seniors Lexi Stein and Kenza Elakari, juniors Aidan MacGrath, Grace Wevley, Chloe Miller and Katherine Len, and sophomore Adeline Barker.

Speaking on behalf of her teammates, Stein thanked the supervisors for the recognition and their coaches for giving them something they never thought would happen.

“We’ve been wanting it for like a long time,” she said. “We’re just really happy that it finally happened, because now I can carry that with me for the rest of my life. Especially when I come back to West Springfield in 20 years, I’ll get to see my teammates as we’re inducted in West Springfield Hall of Fame.”

Under Coach Garrett Kroner, the W.T. Woodson boys cross country team celebrated a successful fall 2022 season by winning the Virginia High School League Class 6 State Championships on Nov. 12 2022, at the Oatlands plantation. The Cavaliers also clocked wins in the Patriot District and Occoquan Regional Championships. This was the first time in the school’s history that the team has won all three championships. On top of all that, the team won multiple weekend invitationals and finished in fifth places at the Manhattan Invitational.

Led by senior captains Samik Bhinge, Daniel Cassata, Caleb Hymans and Luke Schools, and including junior Stephen Wolf and sophomores Jibran Hutchins and Zain Elcock, the Cavaliers count all district, all region, and all state runners among their ranks.

Speaking for the Cavaliers, Bhinge thanked the supervisors for their presentation.

“I’d like to thank our coaches, especially Coach Kroner and Coach [George] Winslow and Coach [Kelley] Devlin, who aren’t here today,” he said. “For all the work for the past, I don’t know, five years or longer. For all the work he’s put in, all the hours, all the late nights, losing hours of sleep, for this and everything he’s done for us, we’re here today to recognize the work he’s done.”

InsideNoVa.com

By Acacia James

Following a crash that killed two teenagers and left a third in critical condition, lawmakers in Fairfax County are asking transportation officials to look into safety improvements on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Pat Herrity’s board matter, which orders the county’s transportation department to “research and provide a preliminary cost estimate” for removing the hills on Lee Chapel Road between Ox Road and Fairfax County parkway.

“These interchanges should be designed with the ultimate goal of the four-lane widening currently envisioned in the comprehensive plan,” Herrity said.

Herrity said he met with two fourteen-year-olds who started a petition calling for safety improvements to Lee Chapel Road.

“There’s a lot of community support for doing something, and unfortunately, it takes a tragedy.”

Herrity said he recommended the project following a fatal crash in 2015 but said funding was insufficient at the time. His board matter also directed staff to look at the feasibility and cost of installing street lights in the vicinity of the hills.

While Chairman Jeffrey McKay supported the motion and agreed that the road needed safety improvements, he also proposed further educating and preparing young drivers.

“Here we had a tragedy involving 16-year-olds who are new drivers, and you know, I think we need to be having a conversation also with our school partners about what type of education and what type of collaboration is happening at the school level,” McKay said.

The victims of the most recent fatal crash on Lee Chapel Road were all South County High School students. In a release, Fairfax County police say the car was traveling in excess of 100 mph before the wreck and that it was airborne for approximately 130 feet.

“Clearly, this is an unsafe stretch of roadway, and we need to be looking at every element of this roadway for improvements,” McKay said.

Supervisor John Foust acknowledged that the board removed specific transportation priorities in 2019 due to the state giving the county less money but urged the board to “take a comprehensive look” at where it stands in its six-year plan.

Herrity said similar roads in the county might also warrant a change.

“I think we’ve got more work to do than just this one hill, but for now, I think we need to focus here,” he said.

Springfield, VA – Today, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield) announced the hiring of campaign manager Kyle Blanchard.

“Kyle comes to us from Northwest Florida with significant experience in government and politics,” said Pat Herrity. “His recent experience building grassroots coalitions for Senator Rubio will allow me to reach more voters than ever before. I am incredibly confident that Kyle’s hard work, leadership and experience will ensure a successful 2023 election season. “

“I could not be more excited to join Pat this year,” said Blanchard. “Supervisor Herrity was my top choice when deciding what to do next. Not only do I think Pat’s common sense policy approach should be nationwide, but I have always loved the Commonwealth of Virginia and could not be happier to be here. I am excited to get to work with the residents of the Springfield District.”

Kyle made his debut into politics in 2022 as the regional director for Senator Marco Rubio in Northwest Florida. He studied political science at Florida State University, and headed the political roundtable at Tallahassee Community College where he was an active political leader on and off campus. Recruiting and volunteering for the Republican Party during his time in Tallahassee gave him vital experience to help win this race.

Kyle can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 451-5515.

Fairfax County Times

By Taneika Duhaney

Almost two weeks ago today, tragedy struck again on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station. The first non-pedestrian-related fatal crash in the county of the year claimed the lives of two 16-year-old South County High School students, publicly identified by family and friends as Ariana Haftsavar and Ashlyn Brotemarkle-the driver and the rear passenger. A third passenger was rushed to the hospital “with injuries considered life-threatening” and she remains hospitalized according to Fairfax County Police.

The single-car crash occurred in the 7400 block of Lee Chapel Road just before 9:30 p.m. Detectives believe that as the Lexus IS350 traveled northbound, the sedan crested one of the hills along the undulating road and lost control, causing the car to veer off the road and flip on its roof as it crashed into the woods. Preliminarily, detectives do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash but speed was.

In the days following the accident, the Crash Reconstruction Unit reviewed “evidence from the crash and the vehicle’s airbag control module, [and] determined the Lexus was traveling 100.7 miles per hour before the crash. Detectives from the scene determined the car was airborne for approximately 130 feet.” 

According to state data, since 2011, this half-mile stretch of Lee Chapel Road-between Ox Road and the Fairfax County Parkway-has been the site of 243 vehicle crashes resulting in 148 injuries and three deaths, including the crash that killed 19-year-old Dilbar Noory. In 2015, Noory lost control while driving over the same hill on this road. Community calls to fix Lee Chapel road are at an all-time high, and a petition calling for changes has received more than 13,500 signatures. 

In response to the recent tragedy, the Virginia Department of Transportation–the state agency that owns this road, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, and county leaders gathered on Jan. 18 to propose improvements to Lee Chapel Road. Herrity acknowledges that changes to fix hills, curves, and turns are needed, and some of these changes were presented in 2015 and again in 2017. However, Herrity admits none of the proposals were implemented due to budgetary constraints and remain on the unfunded priority list. Until changes are funded, “I’m looking for an interim solution right now,” Herrity said.

Some possible short-term solutions include rumble strips, more signage, and improved lighting along the road. However, these changes are not enough for some residents. 

“My family and I had an accident in 2013 on that stretch of road when another driver came across the middle of the road, and we had nowhere to go as there are no shoulders on this part of the road, shared Michelle Motes on social media. “Our vehicle turned over several times and was totaled.” 

Fellow Burke resident Jill Tastrophe had a similarly harrowing experience. “I almost died on the same road in 2018, and I had over 17 surgeries and spent over a month in the hospital,” she said. 

Lee Chapel Road has “optical speed bars” which were installed in 2006. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the series of painted lines are intended to increase drivers’ perception of speed and cause them to reduce speed. Several days after the accident, VDOT updated the optical speed bars. 

“I drive that road a few times a week late afternoon; a week after the accident, I noticed VDOT repainted the lanes closer to the hill on both sides. [They] even added some markers. I believe a street light could make a huge difference,” said Burke resident Vanina Rodriguez.

“This is one of a number of roads in the district and countywide that are left over from Fairfax County’s older, rural past that can be unsafe in modern times with our higher traffic volumes and faster vehicles,” tweeted Herrity. To bring Lee Chapel Road into the modern era, residents are encouraging county leadership to add lights, rumble strips, shoulders and even widen the road from two to four lanes, a project proposal that Herrity backed in previous years. 

After a meeting with VDOT and FCDOT officials, Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, Herrity proposed a board matter on Jan. 24 addressing the issue. County leadership approved a motion for future changes to Lee Chapel Road but funding is still undetermined. 

“The Board unanimously approved my motion to direct Fairfax County Department of Transportation to look at eliminating the hills on Lee Chapel Road and potential sources of funding for the project,” tweeted Herrity. The motion also “directs the public works department to look at the feasibility of streetlights and the Park Authority to look at clearing the shoulder areas on the adjacent parkland. These interim changes should be designed with the ultimate goal of the four-lane widening currently envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan.”

As residents await long-term changes, Lee Chapel Road is still a necessary route for commuting. Parents are cautioning their teens to be more vigilant drivers. 

“We don’t avoid it or discourage our teens from driving it. We do talk about the risks of speeding on it and being careful with oncoming lights blinding you,” said Heidi Oh. Other parents have noticed how the accident has impacted their teen drivers. 

“My 17-year-old son was devastated by what happened, having lost two of his friends. I believe it has impacted his outlook with driving, especially on that portion of Lee Chapel that we know is notoriously dangerous,” said Stacey Street.

West Springfield, VA – Today, Supervisor Pat Herrity announced his reelection campaign for Springfield District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
 
Herrity said, “Since I last ran for office, we have faced unfathomable challenges; from a global pandemic to historic unemployment, unprecedented obstacles for our business owners, interrupted education and record-setting inflation…we live in a different world than we did four years ago and I can’t think of a more critical time to need strong, experienced leadership on the Board of Supervisors.
 
That’s why I’m announcing today my campaign to run for reelection for Springfield District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.”
 
Pat Herrity has been serving on the Board since 2008 after 25 years of active business, sports, and civic community leadership. He was raised in Fairfax County, a 1978 graduate of West Springfield High School with an accounting degree from Virginia Tech.
 
During his time on the Board, he has time and time again proven that he is a “go-getter” with a singular focus on bettering the lives of Fairfax County residents. From transportation to education to business and responsible development, Pat’s record speaks for itself. Full details of selected accomplishments, key issues, experience as well as his business, community, and civic resume can be found on his website at PatHerrity.org.
 
Herrity continued, “This campaign is about you, the residents of Fairfax County, and the trials we have faced the past four years. We need someone representing us who has the experience and track record to keep getting results for the County. I humbly consider myself the most qualified to serve our community. I proudly stood as a check on the excesses of the Board, and made sure that each decision made considered the impact it would have on every single one of our county’s residents. I look forward to meeting you and your families on the campaign trail the next ten months as we look ahead to continuing the great work we have accomplished thus far.”
 
The election for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will take place on November 7, 2023. Pat will be making himself available for questions surrounding the announcement this afternoon, please contact [email protected] to schedule a time. For more information about Pat Herrity, please visit PatHerrity.org. See his announcement speech below. 
 

###

Pat Herrity
Announcement Speech
January 26, 2023

“Welcome. Thank you for joining me here this morning at West Springfield High School. As most of you know, this is home to me. This is where it all started, I grew up right down Rolling Road on Portree Court.

That is where I learned about the County from one of its great leaders and my Dad, former Chairman of the Board Jack Herrity.  I not only learned about the County and its issues but about leadership and most importantly about public service.
My Dad loved this county – he actually watched Board of Supervisors meetings right up until the day he died. I share his great passion for public service and for the County we so dearly love.

I began my public service early in life and during my successful business career.  I was recognized by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council with its highest leadership awards. I organized a sports league and coached a number of sports teams.  I was also a leader in my local civic associations.

Sixteen years ago, I made the decision to take that public service to a higher level and run to become Springfield District Supervisor because I did not like the direction the County was heading.  Taxes had doubled in 8 short years from $2,400 to $4,800, our teachers’ salaries were slipping and we were mired in congestion.

The citizens of Springfield District had faith in me and elected me their Supervisor in 2007. They reelected me in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Since I last ran for office, we have faced unfathomable challenges; from a global pandemic to historic unemployment, unprecedented obstacles for our business owners, interrupted education and record-setting inflation…we live in a different world than we did four years ago and I can’t think of a more critical time to need strong, experienced leadership on the Board of Supervisors.

Over those years we have accomplished a lot to make Springfield District and Fairfax County a better place:

• I led two rounds of pension reform efforts to address the county’s unsustainable pension plans and balance our compensation program.
• I was the only Supervisor to call for reopening schools as other communities were successfully doing across the country.
• I am leading the effort to address rising crime and the public safety staffing crisis by calling for increased pay and recruiting befits for our officers.
• As Chair of the Board’s Older Adults Committee, I led the development of Fairfax County’s award-winning 50+ Committee Action Plan to make the County a better place for our older adults.
• I led the effort that took the first steps toward addressing senior tax relief.
• I initiated the Older Adults COVID Response Plan. With 95 percent of Fairfax County’s COVID-related deaths being adults over age 50, older adults were the most impacted demographic in our community. The plan was developed with feedback from online focus groups to address key issues of social isolation, lack of technology access, and wellness among our older adults. 
• I led the successful effort to stop the 10% tax on meals that was overwhelmingly defeated by Fairfax County voters.
• I am the only Supervisor to recommend efficiencies and budget reductions to address the 50% increase in homeowners’ taxes over the last ten years.
• I led the effort to reduce the County’s Machinery and Tools tax that was four times our surrounding jurisdictions and unfairly taxing our small manufacturers and breweries.
• As I did in 2016, in 2022 I asked the Board to again reaffirm our commitment to the protection of the environmentally sensitive Occoquan watershed.
• I am the only Supervisor to ever receive the President’s Award from the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers for my leadership in improving teachers’ salaries.
• I led the effort to get this very school behind us (West Springfield High School) renovated after it was overlooked in the renovation queue.
• I led efforts to reform the county’s zoning and permitting process to reform siloed processes and a culture of “no”.
• We renovated Pohick Library, we have an exciting new driving range and clubhouse at Burke Lake Park, and you can Go Ape on the ropes course at South Run Park. I am currently funding a number of trail and other improvements at Burke Lake Park that have led to additional investments by the Park Foundation.
• Every year I work with my colleagues on the Board to host Teen Job and Opportunity Fairs across the county.
• I have been honored to be recognized by the Sun Gazette for the last six years as Fairfax County’s Best Public Servant.
• I created and am leading the County’s Sports Tourism Task Force to diversify the county’s revenue stream with tourism dollars and build high quality sports venues for our community. I am looking forward to the county’s first sports tourism facility Patriot Park North which will be opening this year and am continuing to move the indoor downhill ski facility on the side of the I-95 Landfill forward.
• Each summer, I host a free concert series at Burke Lake Park – the largest series of any district in the county.
• I led the effort to remove the blight of illegal signs from our roadways
• I am leading the effort to address Panhandling as a public safety issue in the County.I could list many more.  

I could list many more.

I still have the passion to get things done that make Fairfax County a better place.  Sixteen years later, I also still have the passion to use my business skills and knowledge of the County to get spending under control and stop the ever-increasing tax burden on our residents.  Taxes on the average homeowner have increased over 50% in the last 10 years – 6.7% just last year despite over $1 Billion in federal COVID funding – a rate that is not sustainable. I consistently remind the Board of our policy and the bonding agency’s guidance against spending one-time funds for recurring expenditures. I will continue to provide opportunities to set priorities, improve efficiencies and get cost under control. 

Too many of our graduates and seniors are leaving the county. I still have the passion to grow jobs and our economy so our children will have high paying jobs and will stay and raise their families in Fairfax County. We need to continue to improve our zoning, permitting and regulatory environment so we can create and grow businesses in the County, reduce the cost of living, provide affordable housing and create places that will keep our graduates and seniors here.

I still have the passion to make our school system the best in the nation by funneling resources into the classroom and on the teachers and students, not on administrators and administrative burdens. To support our teachers who are dealing with the impacts of two years without in person learning on our students. To return the focus to academics so that all of our children have the opportunity to succeed in life. We need to be celebrating achievement and excellence not punishing it.

I still have the passion to protect our suburban neighborhoods from blight, crime and gangs.  We have much more to do in battling the increasing crime rates, the opioid/fentanyl public health crisis, human trafficking and gangs. We need to give our police department the resources and support it needs to attract, train and retain the best officers to make our community the safest jurisdiction of its size in the country. I want to lead the development of the follow-on plan to the award-winning 50+ Community Action Plan with achievable, actionable and affordable initiatives to improve the lives of our older adults. I want to continue my efforts with the Sports Tourism Task Force to diversify our tax base, economy and bring the county exciting new sports venues like an indoor track and indoor downhill skiing.

I still have the passion to address transportation congestion that keeps our residents from enjoying the quality of life they deserve. We have over $600M in transportation improvements moving forward in the Springfield District including the widening of Fairfax County Parkway (with a grade separated interchange at the dangerous Popes Head Road intersection); building the Shirley Gate Road extension; widening of Route 28, 29, and Rolling Road; adding turn lanes (including at 50 and Waples Mill Road); the Rolling Road VRE parking lot expansion; intersection improvements (including Post Forrest Drive and Random Hills Road); and safety improvements like the Burke Road curve realignment and Orange Hunt safe routes to school improvements. 

I want to ensure the County focuses transportation funding on projects that relieve congestion for our residents. I want to see through the safety improvements we are working on Lee Chapel Road and the Fairfax County Parkway. I was honored to appointed last year to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority where I will have a voice in where $6B in state and local transportation funds are spent.

I also still have the passion to stand as a backstop and a check on the excesses of the Board majority, and make sure that each decision made considers the impact it will have on every single one of our county’s residents. It is important that all sides of a decision are considered as open honest dialogue always gets you to a better answer.

There is a lot of change coming to the Fairfax County, with the retirement of Supervisor Foust and Supervisor Gross, economic challenges, the possibility of a recession, rising crime rates, falling school enrollment, etc. The need for an experienced voice on the Board is clear.  

As I weighed my decision to run for reelection or to run for Chairman of the Board, I reached out to constituents across the county.  What I heard loud and clear from both Republicans and Democrats was the need for balance, the need for a common sense, fiscal conservative voice, the need for experience, the need for a public servant focused on local issues instead of divisive national issues. 

Public service is not about what you want to do, it’s about doing what is right for the community. 

For me, this county will always be vitally important, but the Springfield District is my home. It’s such an important part of the fabric of my life, of my family’s life, of our past, our present and our future. 

That’s why I will be asking the residents of the Springfield District to give me the opportunity to finish the many things we have underway here in the Springfield District, the opportunity to help shape the direction of Fairfax County by being the common-sense voice on the Board, and to reelect me as their Springfield District Supervisor.

This campaign is about you, the residents of Fairfax County, and the trials we have faced the past four years. We need someone representing us who has the experience and track record to keep getting results for the County. I humbly consider myself the most qualified to serve our community. I proudly stand as a check on the excesses of the Board majority to make sure decisions are made with all sides considered. I look forward to meeting you and your families on the campaign trail over the next ten months as we look ahead to continuing the great work we have accomplished thus far.

Thank you again for being here. And thank you for putting your trust in me. I’m counting on you all to help, and I solemnly promise to be a public servant with your best interest at heart.”

West Springfield, VA – On Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9:00 AM, Pat Herrity will be making an announcement regarding his political future and the 2023 elections. We will have all details following the announcement available on our website at PatHerrity.org, on all social media platforms, and available to you directly by contacting [email protected].