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Columbia Pike Transit Initiative Public Meetings - Fairfax County and Arlington County, in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration, invite you to attend public meetings and provide your input on the Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Assessment (AA/EA) document for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative.  Both meetings will be identical in format, so please come to the one most convenient for you.  

• Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Patrick Henry Elementary School (Cafeteria/Gymnasium), 701 South Highland Street, Arlington, VA  22204
• Thursday, June 7, 2012, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads (Auditorium), 3440 S. Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA  22041 

The AA/EA document is available for reference at the following Fairfax County locations (including my office and the Woodrow Wilson Library), and formal comments are accepted until June 21st: Additional information regarding document availability and submitting comments can be found in the informational flyers, in English and Spanish.

  Spotlight by Starlight - The Friends of Mason District Park support the wonderful summer performing arts series at Mason District Park. Spotlight by Starlight, which brings free programs to our community all summer long, receives no funding from Fairfax County. The Friends of Mason District Park have provided these special programs and other important projects at Mason District Park for 31 "star-studded" years. Please help us to carry on this tradition.  I’m also delighted to welcome the series to the Ossian Hall Park on Saturday evenings with dance and music from around the world.  Get your copy of the Spotlight by Starlight schedule here.

 

 

Farmers Market at Mason District Park – The Farmers Market is held every Thursday morning, from 8 a.m. until 12 noon at Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike in Annandale.  The market is held rain or shine, May until early November.  For a complete schedule of Farmers Markets in Fairfax County Park Authority, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/wp-farm-mkt.htm.

FY2013 Budget is now adopted -  Fairfax County's FY 2013 budget is now a reality.  The Board of Supervisors adopted the budget by a vote of 8 to 2.  The Board adopted a tax rate of $1.075 per $100 valuation, and a stormwater tax rate of 2 cents, for an overall total rate of $1.095, about the same as last year.  

In its deliberations, the Board considered the slow-but-increasing economic recovery in Fairfax County, indicated by land use applications making their way through the county system, strengthened commercial leasing, and home sales that are trending upward.  The School Transfer is maintained at the advertised rate of 4.5 percent more than the FY 2012 level.  Support for schools is more than half of the total county budget, an investment now and for the future.  The adopted budget restores full compensation adjustments for county employees, whose salaries and wages have been frozen for three budget cycles.  In response to many constituent requests, funding also is provided to restore some hours at regional and community libraries. The budget takes effect on July 1.  The adopted budget and the Budget Guidance document adopted by the Board can be viewed at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb.

More news and information can be found at the NewsWire.