Fairfax County may close a nature center!

[Anonymous]

That’s not excess revenue- it is a tiny portion of the full budget (about 2%) that means fairfax did a great job with its budgeting and didn’t run out of money.

As for budget cuts, commercial real estate revenues have declined. They raised real estate taxes last year and made budget cuts. They need to make more cuts this year. They’re looking at additional taxes that they have the power to do (they don’t have a lot of revenue raising tax options), like a meals tax, and the same Great American Restaurant group that killed the meals tax last time is already agitating against it.

If you don’t want a nature center cut, OP, become a vocal supporter of the meals tax and hotels tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s not excess revenue- it is a tiny portion of the full budget (about 2%) that means fairfax did a great job with its budgeting and didn’t run out of money.

As for budget cuts, commercial real estate revenues have declined. They raised real estate taxes last year and made budget cuts. They need to make more cuts this year. They’re looking at additional taxes that they have the power to do (they don’t have a lot of revenue raising tax options), like a meals tax, and the same Great American Restaurant group that killed the meals tax last time is already agitating against it.

If you don’t want a nature center cut, OP, become a vocal supporter of the meals tax and hotels tax.

Can you clarify? I thought the public already approved the meals tax, but I might be mistaken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s not excess revenue- it is a tiny portion of the full budget (about 2%) that means fairfax did a great job with its budgeting and didn’t run out of money.

As for budget cuts, commercial real estate revenues have declined. They raised real estate taxes last year and made budget cuts. They need to make more cuts this year. They’re looking at additional taxes that they have the power to do (they don’t have a lot of revenue raising tax options), like a meals tax, and the same Great American Restaurant group that killed the meals tax last time is already agitating against it.

If you don’t want a nature center cut, OP, become a vocal supporter of the meals tax and hotels tax.

Can you clarify? I thought the public already approved the meals tax, but I might be mistaken.

You are mistaken, they voted down the meals tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s not excess revenue- it is a tiny portion of the full budget (about 2%) that means fairfax did a great job with its budgeting and didn’t run out of money.

As for budget cuts, commercial real estate revenues have declined. They raised real estate taxes last year and made budget cuts. They need to make more cuts this year. They’re looking at additional taxes that they have the power to do (they don’t have a lot of revenue raising tax options), like a meals tax, and the same Great American Restaurant group that killed the meals tax last time is already agitating against it.

If you don’t want a nature center cut, OP, become a vocal supporter of the meals tax and hotels tax.

or the council could prioritize things tax payers care about instead of spending money to attract people who will never pay taxes

[Anonymous]

I always thought a meals tax (which the BoS is free to institute on their own now without a public vote …) was going to be used for school funding exclusively? Can anyone clarify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needs to increase funding for the schools. I'm fine without a nature center if it means we have good schools.

The School Board just approved $500K for a boundary consultant. They don't need more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needs to increase funding for the schools. I'm fine without a nature center if it means we have good schools.

In reality, you’ll lose the nature centers and still not have good schools because if there’s anyone who’s going to piss away your tax dollars, it’s FCPS.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Fairfax resident and if the parks department can’t make it on almost $50 million there’s something terribly wrong with the management of the department.

[Anonymous]

Keep the nature centers, sell the golf courses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep the nature centers, sell the golf courses

Excellent fiscal policy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a few short years, you will no longer care about things like this OP. This time is fleeting. And your very upset considering you don’t even know which location.

Respectfully, I disagree. All the locations are valuable, and I would want them around for grandkids as well. I also want to live in a county that prioritizes these kinds of experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are they supposed to make up the funds? Are you willing to pay more in real estate taxes? Have your services cut in some other way?

They already raise our taxes every year by significant amount actually. Maybe they should stop mismanaging money and overspending on country buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are they supposed to make up the funds? Are you willing to pay more in real estate taxes? Have your services cut in some other way?

Obviously. You’re what is wrong with this country, BTW.

Did I say what my preference was? No. I just asked a question to point out that trade-offs were real. You can't just have low taxes and fund everything and not borrow a cent. Economics don't work that way.

Nobody said anything about low taxes except you, dummy. You’re not illuminating anything to anyone here.

And yet when the real estate taxes go up by a percentage point people flip out.

I've had my taxes raised by over 50% in less than a decade for a 1200 sq ft house. I've never seen A percentage point increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a Moco resident, it always struck me as a given that Fairfax county does not prioritize green space.

This is very true. I've watched them slam in a new townhouse development when a person with a larger lot sells. Ridiculous. They even crammed in a Sunrise retirement home behind a historic house removing all the trees and granting the neighboring SFH homes to look up at the multistory monstrosity that stays lit all night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a Moco resident, it always struck me as a given that Fairfax county does not prioritize green space.

This is very true. I've watched them slam in a new townhouse development when a person with a larger lot sells. Ridiculous. They even crammed in a Sunrise retirement home behind a historic house removing all the trees and granting the neighboring SFH homes to look up at the multistory monstrosity that stays lit all night.

There was also Woodleigh Chase on Braddock Rd. They surveyed the community and had options like putting in a park there, then they sold to a developer to build senior housing. Now they can tax the people in those units and guarantee no one there will be costing them money by sending kids to school. Drives me crazy they don't prioritize things families need.