Fairfax County has released its 2026 Annual Report, detailing the numerous ways county leaders and agencies made decisions on the county’s priorities and the projects to pursue over the past year.
Released concurrently with the county executive’s FY 2027 Advertised Budget presentation, the report is organized around the four drivers of the Countywide Strategic Plan: Equity, Data Integration, Community Outcomes and Inclusive Engagement, and highlights accomplishments in 10 thematic areas called “community outcomes.”
Several hundred new programs, expanded initiatives and ongoing projects are detailed in the report. It’s a lot to read, and we hope you will. But with so many finalized projects, new partnerships and ongoing initiatives hitting critical milestones, some of our best work over the past year may have slipped by your attention.
"This report isn’t about numbers—it’s about people, and the impact our work has had on daily life," said Bryan Hill, Fairfax County Executive. "It shows how we’re turning equity from a goal into a standard, and how we’re improving outcomes for children, families, older adults, people with disabilities and historically underserved communities."
Here are 10 accomplishments in 2025 you may have missed, as highlighted in our latest report.
1. Cultural and Recreational Opportunities
The county reopened the Mount Vernon Rec Center, introducing new amenities, including a two-story fitness center, an additional ice rink and a climbing wall. The upgraded and expanded fitness center features cardio and strength equipment, as well as a variety of low- and high-impact drop-in group fitness classes in the new studio classrooms. The Rec Center’s new ice arena features two National Hockey League-sized ice rinks, a skate rental area, skate sharpening services, team locker rooms and party rooms with skate-friendly flooring for events.
2. Economic Opportunity
Assisted by 143 dedicated IRS-certified volunteers, the county's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program prepared 2,380 tax returns in 2025, resulting in a combined federal tax refund of $2,867,135. Additionally, VITA helped individuals and families claim $1,117,942 in Earned Income Tax Credits, maximizing financial benefits to support households.
3. Safety and Security
Officials broke ground on two new fire stations: the Gunston Fire Station in Lorton and the Fairview Fire Station, both designed with advanced sustainability features. Crews will build the two-year Gunston project next to existing Station 20, which serves Mason Neck residents and supports the Fire and Rescue Department’s marine operations. The new four-bay, two-story facility will replace the older two-bay station and is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and net-zero energy standards through geothermal and solar energy systems. The new two-story, three-bay Fairview Fire Station will include solar panels, geothermal systems and electric vehicle charging stations, with plans to meet net-zero energy and LEED Gold standards.
4. Effective and Efficient Government
In 2024, the county tested the Assisted Non-Emergency Triage (ANET) system on its non-emergency line to handle routine inquiries, including permit questions and noise complaints. More than 30% of calls involved simple information requests. The system provided answers, forwarded callers, or sent helpful text links. ANET handled only non-urgent calls, supported English and Spanish, and allowed callers to request a human operator. Officials plan to use early results from the test to guide a potential expansion this fall, aiming to let dispatchers focus on emergencies while AI manages routine calls.
5. Mobility and Transportation
The county celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Fairfax Connector, which began in 1985 with a few routes and has grown into a countywide network serving tens of thousands of riders daily. The bus system connects people to work, school, shopping and other destinations. The anniversary celebration included special events, stories from the past and opportunities for the public to participate.
6. Lifelong Education and Learning
Fairfax County Public Library surpassed 4 million digital checkouts in a single year for the first time since it introduced Libby by OverDrive in 2006. In 2024, only 29 libraries that use OverDrive exceeded the 4 million digital checkout mark. The library system currently ranks No. 22 in digital circulation nationwide and No. 1 in Virginia.
7. Housing and Neighborhood Livability
The county broke ground on the transformative renovation of Telestar Court in Falls Church, marking the county’s first office-to-residential affordable housing conversion. The project repurposes vacant office space into affordable homes, reflecting a new approach to addressing housing needs. Located in the employment hub of Merrifield’s Telestar Court, the project supports the county’s goal of providing housing options that allow residents at all income levels to live close to where they work.
8. Environment and Energy
Twenty new businesses joined the Fairfax County Green Business Partners program, bringing the total number of members, leaders and allies to 70. The program provides resources, collaboration and recognition to encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices, reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.
9. Healthy Communities
The new Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center opened across the street from Springfield Town Center. Reachable by public transportation, the facility expands services and improves accessibility for residents, particularly those who rely on transit. The state-of-the-art center provides a wide range of public health services, including immunizations, maternity services, tuberculosis treatment and screening and more.
10. Empowerment and Support for Residents Facing Vulnerability
Launched the Opportunity Youth Network, a collaborative initiative focused on empowering Opportunity Youth; young people ages 16-24 who are not in school and not working. The kick-off event, titled “Powering Pathways … Igniting Potential: A Collective Commitment to Fairfax County Youth,” marked the beginning of a countywide effort to drive equity, elevate youth voices and strengthen support systems for more than 9,300 young people facing disconnection in Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church.
Why the Annual Report and the Strategic Plan Matter to You
These highlights – and many others bulleted in the full report – demonstrate how the county is using a thoughtful approach based on data to improve quality of life. From enhancing public safety to expanding economic opportunities, the county remains focused on delivering meaningful actions for all residents.
The report illustrates how Fairfax County leaders and staff are building a local government that’s effective and efficient, while also being fair, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the county's most vulnerable residents and to the goals of becoming OneFairfax.
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