F.C. Bulletin: City Council Approves Slashed FY '26 Budget; Joy for Ice Cream Jubilee
Mayor Hardi's Tightrope Walk
Falls Church City Mayor Letty Hardi walked a delicate tightrope in her closing remarks prior to the City Council's vote to unanimously approve the City's FY '26 budget and Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) in a formal public session May 12 at City Hall.
With City revenue projections dropping by $1.2 million "due to local tax revenue coming in lower than anticipated in the third-quarter FY2025 report" (City of Falls Church), the mayor had to square up to the disappointments of a 3.2 percent decrease in this year's budget over last year's, a $140 million drop in schools funding, eliminating New Year's Watch Night celebrations, and providing only a single penny of relief "to a rate of $1.20 per $100 of assessed value" for taxpayers in the City's real estate tax rate.
The mayor highlighted how well Falls Church City has done economically over the past decade, far outpacing neighboring counties and municipalities with 6-7 percent growth year-over-year. "That is actually quite remarkable when you look at it [compared] to what our regional partners are seeing," Hardi said. "We have that revenue growth from economic development over the past ten years and we have seen some of that paid out as dividends and we’ve also seen increased property values where we have become a desirable place [to live]."
With a possible recession looming, however, the time has come for belt-tightening, the mayor proposed. But, the challenge? How to meet the City's wide variety of needs as it develops rapidly – on the one hand – versus how, on the other hand, to cut residents' tax burdens.
"I think, as we’ve all acknowledged .... there may be a lot of uncertainty ahead and we’re trying to prepare for that," Hardi said.
As a parent of two kids in the City's schools, the mayor also acknowledged the painful choices of whether to forego tax cutting or to reduce revenue-sharing with the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS). "I’ve read through all the rounds of public comments we’ve gotten, again – and many of them from fellow school parents – where [the message is] simple, ‘don’t reduce the tax rate.’ "
In a dramatic turn, the mayor then said she'd outline her "personal budget philosophy" to address the "consternation" some seem to have expressed in the budgeting and public feedback process, even though, Hardi said, the philosophy "seemed obvious to me."
And, philosophically, tax-cutting is the mayor's top priority. "I personally start every budget season with the desire to, frankly, lower the tax burden and reduce the tax rate because of the economic development we’ve invested in over the years. And because of the burden of what our high taxes mean for our homeowners. I think in the past, when I’ve talked about affordability, it’s not just affordable homes and attainable homes, it’s also the bills you pay."
On the other hand, the mayor said, you have to be wise with your money, especially as the City and the region are facing a severe economic downturn in the months to come.
"Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you should spend it. That’s just how I approach money," Hardi said. "And I’ve also said it’s not normal to have revenue growth of 6 or 8 percent. So if we're [now] expecting years of [just] 2-3 percent revenue growth, it's far easier, in my opinion, to start trimming your budget to prepare for harder times. [But,] we probably have some different opinions in the audience about that."
The mayor also believes the Council's main role is to balance the City's spending priorities and commitments with its realistic revenue projections.
"At the beginning of every Council [Session], when we're seated, we decide our priorities," Hardi said solemnly. "It’s our specific responsibility up here to set the tax rate and to decide how to balance the needs across the entire city. We decide to invest in things like transportation, climate, and housing. I think schools are one part of that and clearly an important part of our community. But it is our job – as part of the community – it’s our job up here to do that tough balance."
Acknowledging that "not everyone shares that philosophy," however, the mayor then directly addressed the controversy over cutting revenue-sharing with FCCPS. For the mayor, 100 percent revenue-sharing with the schools is ideal when the economic times are good, but not when the clouds of recession are looming over the City.
"I also reflected on revenue-sharing," Hardi said. "I do think that has worked well in Good Times. We’ve also said very clearly that revenue-sharing is for Good Times. And so, if we're entering a period of economic disruption and Tough Times, I think how we partner a lot in the coming year, matters a lot. So, I would ask that for — not for the audience who are obviously here — but for the people watching, that we all really try to turn down the rhetoric on the budget. I think the seven of us [on the City Council] are trying to do our best to balance all those needs we've talked about."
"In the changing environment, it’s going to be volatile, and I think we need to be a lot more nimble, and we need to be more prepared for the times ahead," the mayor said. "So, through this budget cycle, you’ve heard me talk about how I want a 'list of levers for revenues and expenditures.' So, should we decide, come September, the data doesn’t look good and we’re going to need to do more trimming, and the revenue contingencies we set aside were not enough, are we prepared to do that? So, I want us to have that discipline through the budget process. And I think we got some good information and some good options from Mr. [City Manager, Wyatt] Shields and I’d love for our school partners to do the same. I think the community expects us to be responsive and thoughtful and collaborative and I hope we can keep that in mind as we continue through the next several months and certainly in the summer and in the coming year."
As economic volatility continues, we'll see how the mayor's belt-tightening prescriptions for the City fare against critics with sharply differing budgetary philosophies.
Following is based on a May 13 City of Falls Church Office of Communications press release:
The Falls Church City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) during last night's Council Meeting. The budget provides new funding for road way maintenance, compensation for staff, and sets aside a contingency to help address a possible economic down turn in the region due to federal actions. The unanimously approved budget allows for a one-cent reduction in the Real Estate tax rate, to a rate of $1.20 per $100 of assessed value.
The FY2026 General Fund budget, inclusive of Schools and General Government and Capital Plan totals $133,259,318. The budget provides $57,706,605 (6.3 percent growth) for the General Government, and $69,402,486 for City schools (6.9 percent growth). Due to a decrease in debt service and use of capital reserves, the overall FY2026 budget is a 3.2 percent decrease from the current budget.
After the initial presentation of the Budget by the City Manager, the revenue forecast was revised down by $1.2 million due to local tax revenue coming in lower than anticipated in the third-quarter FY2025 financial report. City Council requested the General Government and Schools provide reductions in the proposed budget. General Government spending reductions include not filling a vacant director position, eliminating the Watch Night special event, and other reductions totaling $261,000. The City schools transfer amount was reduced by $145,000.
“This is a budget that does a lot of good for our residents and businesses – especially in the backdrop of economic disruption in the region. Overall City revenues are growing at a rate above average in the region due to new commercial projects coming online," said Mayor Letty Hardi. She added that, "Like many budgets, this one is about balance – funding competitive pay for our employees and top priorities such as more paving, road maintenance, housing, and public education, while minimizing taxpayer burden and asking everyone to start preparing for more uncertain times ahead."
Solid Waste was a large part of the budget discussion this year as community members asked that the City to remove the cost of curbside trash pick-up from the general tax rate and finance the service through a solid waste fee instead. A Solid Waste Task Force is being assembled to review options for administering this change and report back to the Council no later than August this year. The City will announce opportunities for public engagement on these options soon.
From the proposed budget introduction on March 24 through adoption last night on May 12, ten meetings were open to the public to participate in the budget process in person and virtually. The complete text and charts included in the adopted budget can be viewed at fallschurchva.gov/Budget and at Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Avenue).
The FY2026 Budget commences on July 1, 2025.
F.C.C.P.S. Approves FY '26 Budget with $145,000 Reduction Following City Forecast of Revenue Drop
Following is based on a May 13 FCCPS press release:
The Falls Church City School Board approved its Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The approved budget totals $69,402,486 and requires a city appropriation of $55,380,284, which represents a $145,000 reduction from the School Board's previously advertised budget due to revised revenue projections from the City's general government.
For the seventh consecutive year, the school division has met the original guidance provided by the City Council while continuing to address the needs of a growing student population and maintaining high-quality educational programming. Despite the mid-process reduction in available funding, the division has worked diligently to minimize impacts to core instructional services.
"This budget reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring we meet the needs of our growing population of students and staff," said School Board Chair Tate Gould. "Despite having to make some difficult decisions, we've maintained our focus on supporting classroom instruction and staff compensation."
The Board's approved budget includes several key elements for the coming fiscal year:
- 2.5% Cost of Living Increase for all staff and a Step Increase for Eligible Employees;
- Funding to make permanent several positions currently funded through temporary sources, including a math specialist, a school counselor, and an ESOL teacher;
- Addition of 4.5 general education classroom teachers to accommodate enrollment growth;
- The addition of one special education teacher and three paraprofessionals;
- Funding for a full-time assistant director of athletics and student activities;
- Continued funding of psychology services previously supported through pandemic funds.
To meet the revised revenue guidance, the school division reduced its planned textbook allocation and deferred the addition of an IB Primary Years Programme coordinator position for the elementary school.
The Board also approved the FY2026 Food Service budget in the amount of $1,621,448 and the Community Services Fund budget of $2,663,200, which requires a city appropriation of $107,500.
For more information about the FY2026 budget, please visit www.fccps.org/budget.
Ice Cream Jubilee at West Falls Opens to the Delight of Passing FCCPS Students, Teachers, Parents
A delightful new ice cream parlor, Ice Cream Jubilee (ICJ) held their Opening Day festivities Friday, May 9 in their advantageous spot a block from the campuses of Meridian H.S. and Mary Ellen Henderson M.S., smack in the middle of the grounds of the West Falls Development at 151 West Falls Station. This new ICJ with its distinctive ship container architecture and indoor/outdoor seating – plus it's hard-to-deny slogan "Everything is Better with Ice Cream" – joins other area locations at Navy Yard, Ballston, College Park, Georgetown, and Reston.
"Friday early afternoon was chilly and windy, not much weather for icy treats, but that did not deter sweets-seekers from attending Opening Day at Ice Cream Jubilee, on the Commons at West Falls, posted Falls Church City Chronicler and retired City Council Member Phil Duncan to Facebook May 9 at 5:52 p.m. "Wide array of flavors on offer; it’s a tough job, but I’ll resolve to try them all. Join me!"
The Falls Church Independent wanted to gain a sense of how students, teachers and parents from the nearby school campuses might be feeling about the latest addition to the massive West Falls Development next door.
Turns out, no one seems to be worried about ice cream addiction among juveniles, or the parlor's possible negative impact on chronic absenteeism, or students "hanging out and eating ice cream with the bad element." Also, who knew that cookie dough flavors are so popular?
"I want to try it, but haven't been able to yet," said Meridian H.S. 9th-grader Charles Griffith, as he approached the school entrance during a teacher work day on May 14. "But, I've heard students say great things about it." Griffith predicts ICJ at West Falls will be a great success. "I think people are going to love it. And I think business will be really good for [ICJ] once it gets a little warmer out. When students are almost done with school, they can come here and get some good ice cream." With "either vanilla or cookies-n-cream" as his favorite flavors, Griffith is "looking forward to trying it out."
Brooke Northrip, wife of Meridian H.S. Theater teacher Sean Northrip, hasn't yet been to the new West Falls location, but visited the ICJ at Ballston Common with her kids. While she finds the parlor "a little pricey," she loves the parlor's wide range of flavors and locations. She's excited to see ICJ open right next to the campuses. "I think it's probably going to be really great, considering the high school and the middle school are right here, especially as you get to the end of the school year and parents want to take their kids somewhere to celebrate the end of the year," she said.
"I think it's going to be a big hangout after [the school day] and school activities," Northrip continued. "Once the basketball game is over or the football game, I'm sure a lot of kids will be hanging out there." And all the development at West Falls is very exciting as well. "Yeah, my husband taught in the old school, so it's very cool to see what that space is turning into. It's got a lot of variety, from ice cream, to a music school, to a dance studio – it's very exciting!"
Entering Meridian for the teacher work session, Elizabeth McCarthy, a special education transition coordinator, laughed when asked how she felt about the opening of the West Falls ICJ. "Who doesn't like ice cream?," she responded.
Perhaps because she specializes in helping students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) think of what they'll do after graduating from high school, McCarthy sees great opportunities presented by the new ice cream parlor. "It's a wonderful business opportunity and a nice treat for the kids when they get out off school" at the end of the school day. But, also, it's a workplace where students can find ready employment. "When you think of the demographic of a typical ice cream shop worker, I know in our neighborhood, it's teens.... So it would be great to offer job opportunities for the students here and it's convenient so they can go there right after school."
Though they haven't yet had a chance to visit, Meridian H.S. 9th-graders and freshman football teammates, Jacob Mattoon and Parker Duval, were also most excited about the possibilities opened up with the new Ice Cream Jubilee. "I actually heard from a couple of friends earlier today that it seems, actually really good and really tasty," Mattoon said. "I think my parents went there and they said there were a lot of flavors in there. So, it looks pretty good," chimed Duval.
Asked about how students might take advantage of such a nearby ice cream parlor, Mattoon waxed romantic. Will it be a place where students hang out? "Oh my gosh – like 100 percent," he said, "because it's like right next to the high school and if you have a high school sweetheart or something, you'll just go there, get some ice cream, and I think they're building a movie theater not too far away, so then you'll walk right down to the movie theater and watch a movie. So I think it's just a great idea."
Asked about their favorite flavors, Mattoon pondered briefly then said, "Umm, probably cookies-n-cream. If not, I'm going with like peanut butter," while Duval didn't hesitate to say, "My favorite flavor is probably like, chocolate. [Laughs]. I guess I'm old fashioned like that."
Meridian H.S. sophomores and soccer teammates, Sagar Nangia and Christian Brooks were also most enthusiastic about the opening of the new ICJ so close to campus. "I feel like it'll be a really good place for [the parlor], especially after school on days like this – short days. It's going to bring a lot of business.... And, everyone knows where it is. It's right in the middle of West Falls," said Nangia, whose favorite flavor is cookie dough. Brooks – who prefers vanilla – agreed: "Yeah, I'm excited. It's going to be a convenient spot."
On the grass turf Commons' massive three-person swings near ICJ at West Falls, Meridian H.S. sophomores Riley Abrenio, Allie Fergie, and Madelyn Denny were lounging, swinging, and chatting softly, having just enjoyed an ice cream (each had cookies & cookie dough) from the new shop. Asked if they were excited about the new ICJ, they answered in unison and with beaming smiles, "Yes!"
"Yeah, this whole area is really nice, because there are swings and you can hang out with people," Fergie said. "It's definitely crazy to see it because we've been watching it being built for so many years now, like the hole in the ground and everything like that. And it's like, 'Wow! They've finally completed it!,' Riley added.
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