Dear Friends, I hope this finds everyone enjoying the summer, despite the heat. This month’s County Board meetings were packed causing this rather longer than usual newsletter. For more on meeting topics, see: https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/Newsroom/Articles/2024/Arlington-County-Board-Wrap-Up-for-July-2024-Meeting FY’25-34 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) The major item for July was adoption of our $5.2 billion FY’25-34 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) which is adopted every 2 years and sets out our plans for community facilities, environmental resiliency, … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, Our June County Board meeting had several regular hearing items. For a fuller description of the topics below, please see the County’s Newsroom Board Wrap-up link: https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/Newsroom/Articles/2024/Wrap-up-Media-Release-for-June-2024-Meeting Virginia Hospital Center (VHC)We considered a site plan amendment for Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) which has just completed a large expansion project and was requesting approval for a much smaller expansion. The new section would permit approximately 17,015 square feet of building additions to … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, June is upon us already. For our May meeting, we added a day for a special meeting on May 28 to allow time for our Capital Improvement Program (CIP) presentation which is why this summary is coming to you a little later than usual. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) We adopt our CIP every 2 years. It is a 10-year plan for our buildings and infrastructure that has, essentially, two parts. The first 2 years of the plan will determine for which projects we will request bond funding for and how much we will request from our voters this fall. These projects are planned, … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,  The major item at April’s County Board meeting was our budget, which we passed with a 2-cent increase on the tax rate, the first since FY20. FY25 Budget At our April 20 meeting, we adopted a $1.65 billion balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2025, a 6.4 percent increase over FY 2024. The adopted budget focuses on foundational services for the community, including public safety, housing, behavioral health, environmental sustainability, transportation, and schools. Adoption of the FY’25 budget was unusual in the large amount of one-time money ($38.1 million) the … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,  I will be sending you my monthly Board report in a few days, but wanted to let you know now that I strongly support Tenley Petersen to take my seat on the County Board next January. Tenley is head and shoulders above the other candidates. I will feel very good about my decision to step down if she replaces me. I am joining my former County Board colleagues Christian Dorsey, Katie Cristol, and Jay Fisette as well as many Arlingtonians who have been involved in our commissions and civic life for many years in this endorsement. I've gotten to know … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, I hope this finds everyone feeling uplifted by the spring sunshine and blossoms everywhere. FY2025 Budget & Work Sessions The County Board is in the middle of our budget season and holding budget work sessions most Tuesdays and Thursdays on the many departments and activities covered by the Manager’s budget.  On Friday, we met with our School Board colleagues. Despite the intensity of meetings, I have always enjoyed our work sessions because they are a great opportunity to really talk with the people leading the work of the County. You can watch our work … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, I hope you’re enjoying spring-like weather. The Board is into budget season. FY ’25 Budget and Tax Rate The Manager presented his proposed budget on Saturday and we had many votes on Tuesday to advertise the various fees and tax rates. The main item for this meeting, as usual, was advertising the real estate tax rate for FY ‘25. Although real estate taxes have gone up in actual dollars because the value of real estate in Arlington continues to increase, we have not raised the tax rate for the past three years. The full proposed budget and other informative links are … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,  Thank you again to all who sent me such kind notes after my announcement that I would not run again for re-election. It truly is an honor and privilege to serve our community. I appreciate all the support that has allowed me to do that. This work is not always easy, but no work is. And, it has felt like a calling to me. I am very lucky to have been able to follow my calling for 28 years. Red Lion Site Our January agenda was light. We approved a number of changes so a residential project at 1501 Arlington Blvd, the Red Lion Inn site, could … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, I hope this finds you enjoying the holiday season and looking forward to the New Year. 2024 will be a year of transitions on the County Board. Christian Dorsey gaveled out his last meeting as Chair on Tuesday. We, and many others, bid him a fond farewell. We also thanked Tannia Talento for "pinch hitting” and filling Katie Cristol’s seat after Katie stepped down early this summer. It has been a pleasure to work with both of them. January 2 will be our organizational meeting when we will welcome Susan Cunningham and Maureen Coffey to our Board team, elect our chair and … [Read more...]