This weekend’s County Board meeting is expected to include a presentation on the county manager’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year and several other notable items.
Additional slated topics include a vote on the future of Arlington’s parking rates, an upgrade to the elevators at the Arlington County Justice Center and more vendors at the Lubber Run Farmers Market. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.
County manager to present budget proposal: County Manager Mark Schwartz is on track to present his proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, kicking off two months of deliberations on the county’s spending plan and tax rates, which the County Board must ultimately approve.
The current budget totals $1.69 billion and runs through June 30. The fiscal year 2027 package takes effect July 1. Under state law, budgets of local governments must be balanced and cannot run deficits.
A public hearing on Schwartz’s proposal will be held at the Tuesday, Feb. 24 Board meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
At that meeting, Board members will also advertise the maximum real estate tax rate to be considered during their deliberations. The current rate is $1.033 per $100 assessed valuation.
Because of another steep decline in the assessed value of office properties, it will be almost impossible for Board members to maintain the current rate without major cuts to programs within the budget.
A rise in rates would directly impact homeowners, who have seen property values rise significantly over the past five years and now are collectively responsible for funding nearly 60% of the total annual budget.
Public hearings on the budget and tax rates will be held on March 24 and 26, respectively. In the interim, Board members will be holding work sessions with various departments and constitutional offices on budget issues.
Parking rate changes could become permanent: Board members will decide whether to make permanent the county’s “performance parking” initiative, which attempts to match parking meters’ prices with demand.
The pilot program was funded by the Virginia Department of Transportation and has the stated goal of managing limited parking availability, not increasing revenue. In some high-demand areas, parking meters now cost nearly $5 per hour.
If Board members choose not to make the pilot program permanent, parking rates could return to their previous levels.
The program doesn’t change the cost of parking in real time, but it does monitor how much use parking spots get over time. Depending on the results, parking rates can change several times per year. [Item #5]
Improvements to courthouse elevators: Board members will also consider a contract worth up to $5.27 million for the first phase of modernizing existing elevators in the Arlington County Justice Center (1425 N. Courthouse Road).
The elevators were installed in what was then a new building in 1991.
“The building has 12 34-year-old elevators that the manufacturer no longer supports with readily accessible parts during component failures,” staff said in a memo to Board members.
The Matthews Group Inc. was the low bidder among three firms competing for the work. The improvements are expected to be completed by next spring. [Item #9]
Expansion of Lubber Run Farmers Market: Board members are additionally being asked to double the number of vendors allowed at the Lubber Run Farmers Market.
Currently, a maximum of 20 vendors are allowed. The request from Field to Table, which runs the market at 4401 Henderson Road, would increase that to 40.
The market would continue to take place on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Under the proposal, the current operational schedule of April to November would be expanded to year-round. [Item #4]
Funding for ‘history fest’: Board members are expected to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Arlington Historical Society for the disbursement of state funds in support of an upcoming history festival.
The county government has designated the historical society as the lead agency in planning commemorations of the nation’s 250th birthday. The society has announced plans for a May 9 historical fair to be held at Kenmore Middle School, and has won a state grant to support the effort. [Item #12]
