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Fairfax Co. Exec Warns of More Budget Challenges for 2011

October 2, 2009
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Tax increases are back on the table as Fairfax struggles to balance its budget for 2011, says Fairfax Virginia's County Executive.
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Tax increases are back on the table as Fairfax struggles to balance its budget for 2011, says Fairfax Virginia's County Executive.

Fairfax Virginia's County Executive says tax increases are back on the table as Fairfax struggles to balance its budget for 2011.

County Executive Anthony Griffin says Fairfax faces a $315 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning in July.

That's a little less than last years shortfall, but that's before you consider that $150 million cut in state funding to county schools.

"We're approaching a half-billion-dollar problem that he school board and the board of supervisors is going to have to solve," Griffin says.

Griffin says he may have to recommend tax increases and cuts to the countys education contribution but he says it shouldnt come as a surprise to county leaders. "I have been warning the board that the choices they did not make last year, they may have to make this year," he says.

Fairfax raised property tax rates this year, but because of declining property values, it didn't mean more revenue for the county. The board of supervisors has until April to decide on the 2011 budget.

Jonathan Wilson reports...

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