FCTA's four concrete demands to the Board of Supervisors: lower the tax rates to offset assessment increases, put the proposed tax rate on the annual assessment notice, freeze county salaries until the county publishes average salaries in its annual budget, and freeze school salaries until SAT scores recover and achievement is high for all demographics.
Residential property assessments increased 4% this year. Under Virginia law, supervisors have full authority to lower the tax rate to offset assessment increases and keep taxes flat. The revenue-neutral rate was $1.08. By setting this year's rate at $1.12, the supervisors effectively increased the real estate tax rate by 4 cents.
Every February, Fairfax County homeowners receive an annual assessment notice showing their property's new assessment. What that notice does not show is the proposed tax rate — meaning most homeowners have no idea what their actual tax bill might be. The FCTA demands that the proposed rate appear directly on the assessment notice, alongside the assessment, so residents can calculate their bill before the supervisors' budget hearings.
Fairfax County does not publish average employee salaries in its advertised or adopted budget documents. Taxpayers are asked to approve billions in compensation spending without knowing what the average employee earns. FCTA demands a freeze on all county salary increases until average salaries - for non-uniformed employees, police, fire and rescue, and sheriff's deputies - are published transparently in both the advertised and adopted budget, giving the public the information it needs to evaluate whether compensation is appropriate.
FCPS average SAT scores dropped 29 points between 2018 and 2025. Thomas Jefferson lost 82 points in 2025 alone. Only 5 of 25 high schools score above the competitive college threshold. FCTA demands a freeze on all FCPS salaries until: (a) the 29-point county-wide SAT drop is fully reversed, (b) the 82-point TJ drop is reversed, and (c) academic achievement is high for all student demographics. Salaries should follow outcomes.
Supervisors respond to constituents. Including your name and street address in your email identifies you as a Fairfax County resident and increases the chance your message is read and counted. Each email below automatically CCs Chairman McKay.
Tell them: "Please lower the tax rate to offset higher assessments. Do not raise taxes on Fairfax homeowners when assessments increase.
Beyond the four immediate demands above, FCTA supports a comprehensive set of structural reforms to bring Fairfax County spending under control for the long term:
FCTA is the only organization that shows up at every BOS and school board budget hearing to challenge employee compensation on behalf of taxpayers. Join us.