FY 2025 Budget: A Bigger Government For A Growing City
Budget negotiations continue with department heads justifying their requests for 15 more staff. Focus on the three biggest departments – City manager’s office, public safety and public works.
Budget negotiations continue with department heads justifying their requests for 15 more staff. Focus on the three biggest departments – City manager’s office, public safety and public works.
Approved: OakPark Townhomes is the first to take advantage of the new T-Zone proposal, with the maximum density and size allowed. Expected price is around $1m.
The $138.3 million FY 2025 budget is a 16% increase that includes $11.8 million of capital spending. City staff will receive a 6% pay raise while real estate taxes average increase is 2.4%.
The capital plan (CIP) projects for 2025 total $18.3m. Over the next 6 years, the CIty plan has $191m of projects that will require about $60m of debt to be issued.
The City Manager proposed funding the $20+ million cost of adding sewage capacity with City funds and $14.3 million bond issuance. City Council asked why growth isn’t paying for growth, what other options.
Approved and coming mixed-use projects prompted negotiations to increase sewage processing capacity. The City Manager surprised Council with an estimate of $19.3m.
Senate bill SB 304 proposes to mandate that accessory dwelling units be allowed throughout Virginia, specifying zoning requirements for all to follow.
Falls Church was once 42% black. Local historian Ed Henderson writes about their struggle for equity and how zoning, taxes and budgets can displace a community, intentionally or not.
For 2024, the EDA re-elects Bob Young chair, no newcomers appointed. Updates on Virginia Village property acquisitions, new businesses, a new 7-story mixed-use development.