Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Proposed fee for new historic district applications could cost up to $1K

By Scott McCaffrey
The Febrey-Lothrop estate on Wilson Blvd was razed before achieving historic-district status (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Those seeking to obtain historic-district status for properties in Arlington may soon have to pay for the privilege.

County Board members on Feb. 24 advertised a March 26 public hearing on a staff proposal to impose fees of between $250 and $1,000 on submissions related to new local historic districts.

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Schools

No funds for boys volleyball, girls flag football in APS budget proposal

By Scott McCaffrey
West Springfield High School students try out for boys varsity volleyball team in 2024 (courtesy Donnie Biggs/Fairfax County Public Schools)

Constrained finances make it less likely Arlington Public Schools will add new high-school sports in the coming school year.

Left unfunded under Superintendent Francisco Durán’s $856 million proposed fiscal year 2027 school budget are staff proposals to add boys volleyball and girls flag football to athletic programming.

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News

Potential governance changes create questions for treasurer and revenue commissioner

By Scott McCaffrey
Commissioner of Revenue Kim Klingler (file photo)

As Arlington gears up to potentially explore governance-change options, the fate of two constitutional offices may hang in the balance.

Not yet publicly discussed much by governance-change advocates: whether to go the Fairfax County route, folding operations of Arlington’s treasurer and commissioner of revenue into the county government’s general operations.

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News

Arlington poised to phase out and ban gas-powered leaf blowers

By Scott McCaffrey
Leaf cleanup in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A year-round ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, with a three-year phase-out period, is likely to be considered by County Board members later this year.

A county staff recommendation to that effect received no significant pushback from any Board members during a Feb. 24 meeting.

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News

County Board candidate threatens lawsuit over proposal to ban median signs

By Scott McCaffrey
A James DeVita campaign sign (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

An Arlington County Board candidate is threatening legal action if the county government places new limits on people’s ability to put campaign signs in public medians.

“I guarantee you that if they try to pass legislation to ban median signs, I will file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law as a violation of my First Amendment rights,” James DeVita told ARLnow. “I will also seek an injunction to prevent any such law from going into effect.”

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Schools

APS budget plan leaves a gap of almost $19M in unfunded needs

By Scott McCaffrey
Superintendent Francisco Durán (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

Arlington Public Schools’ proposed fiscal year 2027 budget reflects challenging economic conditions and uncertainty over state and federal education funding commitments.

Superintendent Francisco Durán’s $856 million proposal represents an increase of 1.3% from the current budget, one of the smallest year-over-year rates of growth in recent years.

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News

Staff seek to improve snow response after mixed grades from County Board

By Scott McCaffrey
County crews clear snow in January 2026 (via Arlington County/X)

Local residents will be roasting under the midsummer sun when county staff bring forward plans to improve snow response in the 2026-27 winter season.

County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members on Feb. 24 that he would be back in July with new plans. And he wasn’t kidding about the timing.

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News

Majority of Arlington respondents support ranked-choice voting, survey finds

By Scott McCaffrey
An election worker talks to voters at Arlington County's Wakefield High School precinct during the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

More outreach to Latino, older and younger voters is needed if Arlington wants the community to more fully embrace ranked-choice voting, new survey data suggests.

The majority of respondents — 66% — said they either strongly or somewhat supported the voting format in a government-funded voter survey conducted immediately after the November general election. Only 26% were strongly or somewhat opposed, and the remainder were undecided.

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News

Free Uber rides for seniors coming to Arlington affordable housing communities

By Scott McCaffrey
An Uber rider (courtesy Uber)

An updated partnership with Uber will provide more transportation options for senior citizens living in True Ground Housing Partners’ apartment communities.

The expanded program will offer free Uber trips subsidized by the transportation company. Eligible residents will be able to request rides by connecting with True Ground’s resident-service coordinators at each property.

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News

Arlington rents are still down year-over-year, but up slightly from last month

By Scott McCaffrey
The Hazel and Azure apartment towers at 3030 & 3130 S. Potomac Avenue (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington apartment rents continue to be down slightly from this time last year, although they’re up slightly from February, according to one survey.

Zumper’s monthly rent index, released yesterday (Wednesday), reported the county’s median apartment-rental asking rate as $2,380 for one-bedroom units and $3,170 for two bedrooms in February. Those rates are down 4.4% and 5.4%, respectively, from February 2025.

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News

County’s political parties prep for ongoing combat throughout 2026

By Scott McCaffrey
Early voting at the Madison Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 (staff photo)

Arlington’s never-ending campaign cycle saw both Democrats and Republicans gearing up for battle over the past few weeks.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee is “focused on winning, doing everything we can to ensure Democrats win,” party chair Paul Ruiz said at Democrats’ monthly meeting on Feb. 4.

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News

County Board advertises 2-cent increase to real estate tax rate

By Scott McCaffrey
County Board members Susan Cunningham and Takis Karantonis (screenshot via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has voted to advertise a 2-cent increase to the real estate tax rate, slightly higher than the rate proposed in this year’s budget draft.

If enacted in its entirety, the jump would increase the county’s tax rate to $1.053 per $100 assessed valuation, adding a further tax burden on homeowners already facing higher assessment values.

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