GreatGreat FallsFalls WellbeingWellbeing Page 10 A Sweet Lesson at Colvin Run Mill News, Page 4 Sports, Page 12 ❖ Classifieds, Page 14 Classifieds, ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 ❖ Opinion, Page 6 Park miller Mason Maddox demon- strates to groups Bulova: ‘This Will Be a how to measure if the syrup is sweet enough using a Challenging Budget’ hydrometer. News, Page 3 Students Honored for Promoting Peace News, Page 13 Photo by Ethan McLeod/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comMarch 5-11, 2014 online atGreat www.connectionnewspapers.com Falls Connection ❖ March 5-11, 2014 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ March 5-11, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Great Falls Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Bulova: ‘This Will Be a Challenging Budget’ Fairfax County average homeowner will see tax bill increase $330 under County Executive’s proposed $7 billion budget. By Victoria Ross The Connection airfax County Executive Edward Long, Jr. unveiled a $7 billion budget proposal Tues- Fday that reflects his “cautious and delibera- tive approach to budgeting,” a result, Long said, of continuing uncertainty over federal spend- ing and sluggish commercial tax revenues. While Long’s budget does not include an increase in the real estate tax rate from FY 2014, steady gains Photo Contributed in the county’s residential housing market mean the Photo courtesy of Fairfax County To show support for Fairfax County schools and teachers, average homeowner will see a $330 increase in their Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Board of the Alliance for Fairfax Public Schools held a “Fund Our tax bill, or a 6.5 percent increase over last year’s bill. Supervisors and Ed Long, county execu- Schools” rally at the Fairfax County Government Center “The one area that is experiencing an upward tick tive, answer questions during a news before Long’s budget announcement. is the assessed value of residential property in the briefing held after the proposed budget county,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon presentation. Bulova (D-At- Large), which will lead to the increase Average Homeowner’s Taxes, 2008-2015 in homeowner’s property taxes even if the tax rate dents, and civic organizations including the Fairfax ❖ FISCAL YEAR 2008 ❖ FISCAL YEAR 2012 remains steady, as proposed by Long. Education Association, Fairfax County Council of Assessed Value of Residential Property - Assessed Value of Residential Property - Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) said “there’s PTAs, and Fairfax County Federation of Teachers. $542,409 $445,533 a lot of work to be done” before the final budget is “Our schools are bursting at the seams, talented Real Estate Tax Rate Per $100 - $0.89 Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.07 Tax Per Household- $4,827.44 Tax Per Household - $4,767.20 approved in April, and the county needs to “elimi- teachers are leaving, and already large class sizes ❖ ❖ nate barriers to the growth of our commercial tax could get even bigger. The supervisors must make FISCAL YEAR 2009 FISCAL YEAR 2013 base.” our schools the priority,” the FCCPTA said in an online Assessed Value of Residential Property - Assessed Value of Residential Property - $525,132 $449,964 “While spending increased by 3 percent, the cost petition addressed to the Board of Supervisors. Real Estate Tax Rate Per $100 - $0.92 Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.075 to our taxpayers is increasing over 6.5 percent due “It’s absolutely stunning that supervisors put forth Tax Per Household- $4,831.21 Tax Per Household - $4,837.11 primarily to the reduction in our commercial tax a budget that shortchanges students,” said Kevin ❖ FISCAL YEAR 2010 ❖ FISCAL YEAR 2014 base,” Herrity said. “I am most concerned that this Hickerson, an FCPS teacher and parent-advocate who Assessed Value of Residential Property - Assessed Value of Residential Property - increase will hurt those in townhomes, condos and supported the rally. “Two percent is not enough.” $457,898 $467,394 apartments the hardest — the citizens that can least To close that gap and fund other priorities, Bulova Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.04 Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.085 Tax Per Household - $4,762.14 Tax Per Household -$5,071.22 afford it.” said she will consider advertising an increase in prop- ❖ ❖ “This will be a very challenging budget,” Bulova erty tax rates, which would add about $150 to the FISCAL YEAR 2011 FISCAL YEAR 2015 said, citing disappointing projected revenues from average homeowner’s tax bill, on top of the $330 Assessed Value of Residential Property - Assessed Value of Residential Property - $433,409 $497,962 business taxes. jump resulting from higher assessed values this year. Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.09 Real Estate Tax Per $100 - $1.085 Among those disappointed with the proposed bud- Bulova said the board will set the advertised real Tax Per Household - $4,724.16 Tax Per Household -$5,402.89 get is Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent estate tax rate on March 4; the advertised rate rep- * Source - Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget Karen Garza, who last month requested supervisors resents the maximum potential tax rate for FY2015. send $2.5 billion to the schools, an increase of 5.7 “Through the budget process, the board may adopt percent in annual taxpayer funding and $98 million a rate lower than the advertised rate, but cannot Budget Event Schedule more than the schools requested last year. adopt a higher rate,” Bulova said. FEB. 25 APRIL 8 According to the County Executive’s proposed bud- Release of the County Executive’s FY Public Hearing on FY 2015 Budget - SUPERVISORS have said they were willing to in- get, one penny of the tax rate is equal to roughly 2015 Advertised Budget Plan Board Auditorium - Govt. Center - 6 crease their transfer by only 2 percent, which ac- $21.9 million in the general fund and $50 for the (including Multi-Year Budget: FY p.m. * 2015 and FY 2016) - 10:40 a.m. counts for 52.1 percent of the proposed county bud- average Fairfax County residential tax bill. APRIL 9 get expenditures. “As the county continues to face fiscal challenges, FEB. 28 Public Hearing on FY 2015 Budget - Garza’s request is about $64 million more than we must persist in our cautious and deliberative ap- Ask Fairfax: Online Chat with County Board Auditorium - Govt. Center - 3 Long’s budget recommendation of $1.93 billion, a proach to budgeting, only funding items that are Executive - 2 - 3 p.m. p.m. * 2.07 percent increase (or $39 million) over the cur- sustainable,” Long said Tuesday, adding that almost MARCH 4 APRIL 10 rent fiscal year. all of the budget increase in his proposal will be ear- Board of Supervisors’ Meeting: Public Hearing on FY 2015 Budget - Advertisement for FY 2015 Tax Rate Board Auditorium - Govt. Center - 3 Garza’s budget proposal would have increased marked for capital investment and employee com- and FY 2015 Third Quarter - 10:30 p.m. * school funding, but also called for $96 million in cuts, pensation. a.m. including classroom testing fees for high school stu- “These are two critical elements of our continued APRIL 18 MARCH 18 Budget Committee Meeting - pre-Mark- dents, large class sizes and staffing cuts. success,” Long said. Budget Committee Meeting - Govt. Up on FY 2015 Budget - Govt. Center Long’s proposal also includes $72.6 million in ad- But members of the County’s Government Employ- Center (CR 9/10) - 1- 3 p.m. (CR 9/10) - 1 p.m. ditional support for school services including Head ees Union — SEUI Virginia 512 — called Long’s pro- APRIL 1 APRIL 22 Start, school health, resource officers and crossing posed budget disappointing. Budget Committee Meeting - Govt. FY 2015 Board Budget Mark-up and guards, after-school programming, field maintenance “We are disappointed that the county executive’s Center (CR 9/10) Approval of FY 2015 Third Quarter - 10 a.m. and recreational programs, among others. proposed budget fails to meet the needs of our com- APRIL 8 To show support for Fairfax County schools and munity, and we call on the Board of Supervisors to Effective Tax Rate Hearing (FY 2015 APRIL 29 teachers, the Alliance for Fairfax Public Schools held do more to invest in our future success,” SEIU Vir- Budget) - Board Auditorium - Govt. Formal Adoption of the FY 2015 Budget a “Fund Our Schools” rally at the Fairfax County ginia 512 Secretary-Treasurer Karen Conchar said. Center - 3 p.m. * Plan - 10:30 a.m. Government Center before Long’s budget announce- JULY 1 ment. The Alliance is a partnership of parents, stu- See County, Page 5 * Opportunities for public comment Beginning of FY 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Great Falls Connection ❖ March 5-11, 2014 ❖ 3 News Week in Great Falls Six Republicans Will Compete for 10th District Nomination On March 1, the 10th District Republican Committee released the names of the candidates for their nomination for Congress. Six candidates filed by the deadline, said 10th District GOP Chairman John Whitbeck in a release. ”We ... feel like we are in an excellent position to hold the 10th District Congressional seat Volunteer Tom in November regardless of who the Democrats nominate.” Milton tends to The committee listed the candidates in alphabetical order: Del. the boiling Barbara Comstock, Stephen Hollingshead, Howie Lind, Del. Bob syrup over the Marshall, Marc Savitt, Rob Wasinger. fire pit. The Republican nominee will be decided in a party canvass on Saturday, April 26 with voting at 10 different locations, including Langley High School and Centreville High School. Supporting CIA Officers Memorial Foundation This month’s Military Appreciation Monday event on March 10 will be in support of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.