Alert:
The Park Authority Board reviews and approves the annual budget on a fiscal year schedule (July 1 – June 30). The board reviews and approves the Park Authority’s Fee Schedule for each calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31).
Each year, the Fairfax County Park Authority receives approximately 35% of the funding needed to operate and maintain the county’s park system through the Fairfax County General Fund. The remaining 65% of the operating budget is obtained through fees that are assessed for memberships, programs, classes, services and amenities as part of the Park Authority Revenue and Operating Fund.
Park fees are essential to providing the required funding to support the operation and maintenance of Fairfax County’s vast park system including rec centers, golf courses, nature centers, camps, classes, water parks, amusements and many more park programs and amenities. These facilities and amenities provide enjoyment and memorable experiences for millions of park visitors each year.
The Park Authority Board considers fee adjustments on an annual basis, with the goal of minimizing user impact, while safeguarding the financial stability of park programs and services. The consideration process includes a public comment period on proposed changes and consideration of suggestions and feedback from the community.
The Fee Schedule is updated on a calendar year basis.
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board welcomes public input from the community on the proposed FY 2027 Budget materials presented at the August 27 Budget Committee Meeting. These items include the General Fund Budget Reduction Request totaling 5% and the FY 2027 Potential Non-Recommended Budgetary Reductions submitted as part of the county budget process.
Comments may be emailed to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov or sent via U.S. Mail to the following address:
Fairfax County Park Authority
Public Information Office
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 927
Fairfax, VA 22035
All written comments received electronically or via email will be provided by Park Authority Staff to the Park Authority Board for review. Please note that the Park Authority Board and Park Authority staff will not be responding to written or verbal comments or questions submitted. All comments will be recorded and published as part of the meeting record.
Members of the public may also present budget comments to the board during the Wednesday, September 10 meeting of the Park Authority Board Budget Committee. The Budget Committee will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in Rooms 106/107 of the Herrity Building located at the address above. The public input session will conclude prior to the beginning of the Park Authority Board Meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The public input session on the proposed FY 2027 Budget will follow the guidelines below:
As part of the County Executive’s annual budget exercise, the Park Authority was tasked with creating a non-recommended budget cut package for FY 2026 that represented 10% of our General Fund allocations, or $3,564,106. The County Executive’s proposed budget ultimately included $1,495,838 (42% of what was proposed). Of that total amount, $529,258 (35%) was restored for FCPA and FCPF by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors including open space mowing, trail maintenance, and 50% of the funding support for the Park Foundation. Click the link below to view the full adopted budget for FY 2026.
Potential General Fund Budget Reduction Package
Fairfax County takes a proactive approach to budgetary planning for the future. In order to provide the County Executive and Board of Supervisors with options to create a balanced budget, the Department of Management and Budget has requested that all General Fund supported agencies develop a prioritized list of reduction options totaling 10% of their FY 2025 General Fund budget allocation. For the Park Authority, this amount would be $3,561,100.
General Fund Budget Request
The Park Authority’s annual General Fund Budget Request outlines the Park Authority’s budgetary priorities and requests for consideration by the Fairfax County Executive in preparing the county’s FY 2026 Budget. Once submitted, the item becomes part of the county’s budget process.
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