Fairfax County budget proposes tax increase, cut in school funding

Falling property values

Although one of the country's wealthiest communities, Fairfax continues to wrestle with declining property values. After a 12 percent drop last year, residential values fell an additional 6 percent this year, and commercial and office assessments fell more than 18 percent to the lowest level since 1991.

After extensive cuts last year, Fairfax was forced to put a mix of lesser-known services on the chopping block this time, including funding for a program that provides free taxi rides for disabled residents ($120,000), the bicycle signage and maps program ($214,000) and nighttime lighting at 123 county-owned tennis, basketball and volleyball courts ($60,000).

A freeze on employee salaries was recommended for the second straight year, and Griffin left open the possibility that merit and cost-of-living increases might not be reinstated until 2013.

Karen Conchar, president of the Fairfax County Government Employees Union, said she is concerned that some of the cuts, particularly layoffs and the elimination of programs for parks and libraries, would leave lasting damage. "It's a whole lot cheaper to fund something appropriately instead of having to go back later and pick up all the pieces," said Conchar, an engineer at the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

Supervisors are scheduled to finalize the budget at eight meetings in March and April, with formal adoption set for April 27.

Staff writers Michael Laris, Christy Goodman, Jennifer Buske, Michael Alison Chandler, Sholnn Freeman and Jonathan Mummolo contributed to this report.