Tax Hikes Slated All Around, But Not in F.C.
By contrast to the City of Falls Church, where City Manager Wyatt Shields signaled in December that another real estate tax cut, if modest, is in order for the upcoming budget cycle, the chief executives of both of Falls Church’s much larger neighbors, Fairfax and Arlington counties, released their recommended budgets with tax rate increases for both. Fairfax manager Bryan Hill and Arlington’s Mark Schwartz announced in the last week that they are recommending tax hikes of four cents for Fairfax (including with an option for as much as a six cent hike) and a penny for Arlington.
While Shields in Falls Church has yet to announce his formal recommendations for the upcoming budget cycle, he suggested in December a penny reduction.
In Fairfax, County Board chair Jeff McKay has reported that the county experienced an average residential increase of 2.86 percent in the last year, noting that “throughout 2023, mortgage rates remained relatively high, and in Fairfax County sales volume was down significantly from 2022.” But, he added, “on average, home prices have continued to increase due to demand exceeding supply, but only moderately compared to the previous two years.”
Sen. Warner Sponsors Bill Ensuring Access to IVF Access
Virginia’s U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner sponsored the Access to Family Building Act, which would establish a federal right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) for all Americans who need it, pre-empting state efforts to limit access and helping ensure no hopeful parent – or their doctors – are punished for trying to start or grow a family.
“After the Supreme Court struck down decades of precedent in overturning Roe v. Wade, we’re seeing more and more extreme attacks on women’s health care and reproductive freedom,” said Sen. Warner. “Following the far right-wing ruling in Alabama’s Supreme Court, we have to act now to make sure IVF remains legal and accessible for Americans seeking to build their families.”
CVS Supporting 2 Affordable Housing Projects
CVS Health announced this week its contribution of nearly $35 million in equity investments towards the creation of two new affordable housing developments in Hawaii. Located in Lahaina, Maui and Kapolei, Oahu, the communities will also offer residents supportive social and educational programs tailored to address their specific needs. These investments support the state of Hawaiis priorities in early childcare and affordable housing and exemplify the power of public and private collaborations, CVS said in a statement.
600 News Leaders Seek Answers to News Decline
More than 600 leaders from news organizations, civic advocacy groups and philanthropies gathered in Miami in February seeking to shore up journalism and civic information in the U.S. Hosted by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Knight Media Forum examined the intersection of journalism and charitable giving. This year’s program was more urgent than past programs.
The agenda featured speakers from news innovators including MLK50, Tiny News Collective, and ProPublica and also included civic advocacy and research organizations like Solutions Journalism Network, the Center for Public Integrity, the Center for Christianity and Public Life, and the Institute for Nonprofit News. Universities had a large presence at the event with speakers from large and small schools on the agenda. Philanthropic groups were also a major presence, the engine behind many of the initiatives in the room.
Sen. Kaine: ‘GOP Path Runs Through Virginia’
“It’s going to take all hands on deck to hold our Democratic majority this year. Republicans are already pulling out all the stops because they know the path to the Senate majority runs right through Virginia, and momentum from my Senate reelection campaign will have a huge impact on the presidential race,” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said this week. “With nine different Republicans vying to defeat me this year, I’m not taking a single vote for granted.”
Arlington Board OK’s Goodwill Building Redo
The Arlington County Board has approved a plan to turn the 70-year-old Goodwill building at the intersection of South Glebe Road and Arlington Boulevard into a mixed-use development.
The plan has been under review since December.
Vape Shop Location Bill Advances in Richmond
Legislation allowing local governments to regulate the location of vape shops and other venues that deal in nicotine products has moved through the General Assembly unscathed and now awaits action by Gov. Youngkin.
Deadlines For F.C. City Business Licenses is March 1
The 2024 Falls Church City Business License Renewal Forms should have been delivered to all City businesses by now. The 2024 Business License Renewal Form (the counter version without your business’s data) is always available on the City’s website at:
fallschurchva.gov/442/Business-License-Tax-Forms or it can be sent to you by e-mail, if you want to renew your business license and have not received it yet or misplaced it.
The deadline to renew all business licenses is by March 1, 2024, or postmarked by that date, to avoid a 10 percent late payment penalty. All paid 2023 business license holders are in good standing until March 1, 2024, due to the annual two month grace period for January and February.
