August 26, 2026

Joint Board Matter with Chairman Jeffrey McKay and Vice-Chair Kathy Smith

Background:

As the Board is aware, staff presented a proposal to initiate the state-mandated five-year process to determine whether Fairfax County should implement a Unified Sanitation District (USD) for our single-family residential customers. Since that time, there have been a lot of questions and concerns raised in the community, much of which has been based on inaccurate or incomplete information.  

While the purpose of considering a USD is both to provide our single-family residents with better andmore efficient service and to achieve County environmental goals, there may be options within a modified USD approach or within non-USD options that could achieve similar goals. After talking with many of you (one on one) and many residents, we have concluded it is in the best interest of all concerned, including the residents and the haulers, that we evaluate our options prior to initiating the five-year period, with the understanding that the five-year period will allow for continued analysis and corrections.

Motion: Therefore, I move that the staff:

• Develop potential options, including pros and cons of each option
• Conduct a public forum among staff, licensed haulers, and HOA representatives managing hauler contracts on behalf of residents with the goal of reaching agreement on the facts associated with the options; and
• Develop a process for Board consideration and ultimate implementation of each.

I further move that we not hold a public hearing on this matter until the above tasks are completed and viable options are vetted with the Board.