The Arlington County Board has authorized staff to move forward with the sale of $208.4 million in 20-year general-obligation bonds.
The county government has tried to defer major bond sales as long as possible over the past two years, citing concerns about the region’s economic health and the county’s revenue conditions. But the time has come to move forward with the next sale, Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said on Saturday.
Arlington leaders are still working through the implications of a change to state law making it easier for religious organizations to build affordable housing.
The Faith in Housing Act removes some, but not all, local regulatory approval for affordable housing constructed on land owned by nonprofit organizations, including religious groups. Despite some concerns from various local governments around the commonwealth, the measure had the backing of Democrats in the General Assembly and ultimately was signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
A local environmental advocacy organization hopes to breathe new life into its efforts.
Supporters of the Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG) met online May 14 to consider specific initiatives and, potentially, a broader mission. The goal, leader Mary Glass said, was to take a fresh look at the local civic landscape and ATAG’s place within it.
The three Democratic candidates for County Board are all in favor of extensive community input on a proposal for a new behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn.
“You need to listen — it needs to be community-first,” challenger Julie Farnam said at a debate hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation on Tuesday.
Arlington voters next year will be able to select up to 10 candidates in ranked-choice elections, more than triple the number currently available.
New ballot scanners set to arrive in Arlington before this year’s Aug. 4 state primary allow for ranking up to 10 contenders. But existing ballot markers, used to assist voters with disabilities, will not be replaced until next year.
A controversial proposal to build 47 townhouses in the Waverly Hills neighborhood is returning for discussion at an upcoming County Board meeting.
Last month, Board members deferred a vote on the project, which staff opposes but neighborhood organizations and county advisory commissions largely support. It’s one of several items up for consideration at the Board meeting on Saturday.
Nearly 48,000 Arlington vehicles will not be charged any car tax this year, an increase of 32% from 2025, based on tax changes made by County Board members during the fiscal 2027 budget process.
For those that will be taxed, some owners will pay less while others — particularly those owning clean-energy vehicles — will pay more.
Arlington’s third and final Democratic contender for County Board launched her campaign May 6 with criticism of county political leadership.
“I’m a serious person, and this is a serious job. I’m not just challenging an incumbent — I’m challenging a system,” Julie Farnam said during kickoff remarks Wednesday night (May 6) in front of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.
More candidates may kick off campaigns for Virginia’s new 7th Congressional District at this week’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.
A host of aspirants already announced their candidacies at the party’s March and April meetings. But some contenders — including Dorothy McAuliffe and Elizabeth Guzman — have yet to stand in front of the party rank-and-file.
The House Judiciary Committee is targeting all three of Arlington’s main criminal justice agencies over local policies that restrict contact with immigration enforcement.
In separate letters to the Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the committee took issue with the limits that these agencies have placed on their cooperation with immigration officers, arguing that such policies endanger the public.
A revised proposal for a 23-story Ballston redevelopment project calls for fewer total units in an unusual mix of apartments and condos.
Aria Development Group, which owns the site at 4420 Fairfax Drive, now proposes to build 59 condominium units and 182 apartments at the site of a five-story office building — down substantially from an earlier proposal to build just over 300 units.
Arlington and Fairfax officials went in two different directions in adopting their fiscal year 2027 budgets.
The Arlington County Board on April 22 approved a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, to $1.053 per $100 assessed valuation, to help fund the county’s $1.7 billion budget.
