Your Tax Dollars at Work
Where does it all go?

Taxpayers in Fairfax County carry an enormous tax load with an ever increasing burden each and every year.  Stretched to the limit, the elderly are quickly being taxed out of Fairfax County, while the young are forced to live elsewhere while commuting through some of the worst traffic in America to work in Fairfax County.  Some companies have chosen not to relocate to Fairfax but to other near-bye locations since an ever growing requirement held by successful companies is that their employees must be able to afford living close to their company offices.  Housing prices inside the Beltway do not always qualify. That and streamline cross county public transportation are often the failings of Fairfax County.

As is true of most counties in the Metro area, Fairfax County provides any number of vital services for residents while offering excellent salaries and extensive benefits for their employees. In this year’s budget, the County’s compensation plan will be fully funded with a market rate adjustment of 2.25%, and funding of performance, merit and longevity awards...not to mention generous overtime, great medical insurance, use of county cars, and substantial retirement packages. County employees will see average increases ranging from 4.25 to 4.50%.  That considerably outstrips non-government jobs. 

However, the county budget comes at a very high cost to the taxpayers, some of whom argue that they are seeing fewer benefits to life in Fairfax County compared with neighboring counties.  If you have ever wondered exactly where your tax dollars are going  the following will give you some idea.   If you are alarmed by these numbers, confused by others, or would simply appreciate a fuller understanding of the multiple retirement funds, trusts, and compensation packages, please contact the Office of the County Executive, Bryan Hill, at (703) 324-2531 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/countyexec/ or your local Supervisor.  For instance:  Exactly how many employees across what fields and offices account for the $11,618,294 allotted to the Dept. of Planning and Zoning or the $28,426,546 to Land Development Services?   What exactly is included in the “Other Category” listed under many departments totaling  $216 million, or “Nondepartmental” at over $393 million?  The pie chart below provides a quick overview but leaves many details murky.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the FY 2019 General Fund Disbursement level of $4.28 billion, which is an increase of $174.29 million, or 4.2 percent, over the FY 2018 Adopted Budget Plan.  Here are some of the highlights, tax rates and fund disbursements. 

Real Estate Tax: Increases from $1.13 to $1.15 per $100 of assessed value.  Property values also rose on average 2.6%.
(The Real Estate Tax, Infestation Prevention Tax and Stormwater Tax are billed on your Real Estate TAx Bill bringing the total tax rate to 1.1835% per $100 assessed value of your home.

Personal Property Tax:  Will remain at $4.57 per $100 of assessed value for most classes of personal property. 

Stormwater Fee: Up to $0.0325 per $100 of assessed value.

Sewer Service Charges: Up to $7 per 1,000 gallons from $6.75.

Sewer Service Base Charge:  Up from $27.62 per quarter to $30.38 per quarter.

Capital Paydown and IT Projects:  Support for these categories will be reduced by $3,216,090

Schools:  The FY 2019 School transfer for operations totals $2.05 billion. In addition, $193.38 million is transferred to School Debt Service and $15.60 million is transferred to School Construction. Total County transfers to support Schools are $2.26 billion or 52.8 percent of total County Disbursements.

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES
Board of Supervisors
Compensation $5,554,584
Operating Expenses $571,950
Total:  $6,126,534

Office of the County Executive
Compensation $6,267,73
Operating Expenses $794,116
Total:  $7,061,851

Department of Cable and Consumer Services
Compensation $685,691
Operating Expenses $174,747
Total:  $860,438

Department of Finance
Compensation $4,708,789
Operating Expenses $4,825,713
Work Performed for Others ($751,697)
Total:  $8,782,805

Facilities Management Department
Compensation $14,724,919
Operating Expenses $52,613,928
Work Performed for Others ($8,137,891)
Total:  $59,200,956

Department of Human Resources
Compensation $6,416,785
Operating Expenses $1,276,928
Total:  $7,693,713


Department of Procurement
and Material Management
Compensation $5,695,030
Operating Expenses $1,758,536
Work Performed for Others ($288,803)
Total:  $7,164,763

Office of Public Affairs
Compensation $1,814,485
Operating Expenses $147,501
Work Performed for Others ($239,882)
Total:  $1,722,104

Office of Elections
Compensation $3,307,888
Operating Expenses $861,637
Total:  $4,169,52

Economic Development Authority
Compensation $3,902,523
Operating Expenses $3,938,092
Total:  $7,840,615

Office of the County Attorney
Compensation $7,878,370
Operating Expenses $413,846
Work Performed for Others ($466,522)
Total:  $7,825,69

Department of Management and Budget
Compensation $5,022,624
Operating Expenses $180,819
Total:  $5,203,443

Business Planning and Support
Compensation $3,637,294
Operating Expenses $163,588
Work Performed for Others ($2,785,126)
Total:  $1,015,756


Office of Capital Facilities
Compensation $13,680,757
Operating Expenses $9,647,955
Work Performed for Others ($8,652,781)
Total:  $14,675,931

Land Development Services
Compensation $23,373,333
Operating Expenses $5,406,945
Work Performed for Others ($353,732)
Total:  $28,426,546

Department of Planning and Zoning
Compensation $10,953,108
Operating Expenses $665,186
Total:  $11,618,294

Planning Commission
Compensation $827,883
Operating Expenses $29,163
Total:  $857,046

Office of the Financial and Program Auditor
Compensation $368,538
Operating Expenses $32,166
Total:  $400,704

Department of Housing and Community Development
Compensation $4,893,329
Operating Expenses $2,330,272
Work Performed for Others ($378,598)
Total:  $6,845,003

Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs
Compensation $1,677,174
Operating Expenses $119,995
Total:  $1,797,169


Department of Transportation
Compensation $9,942,991
Operating Expenses $468,337
Work Performed for Others ($1,827,837)
Total:  $8,583,491

Civil Service Commission
Compensation $387,948
Operating Expenses $66,186
Total:  $454,134


Office of the Independent Police Audit
Compensation $283,702
Operating Expenses $32,675
Total:  $316,377


Fairfax County Park Authority
Compensation $24,767,214
Operating Expenses $5,499,532
Work Performed for Others ($3,876,161)
Capital Outlay $200,000
Total:  $26,590,585

Fairfax County Public Library
Compensation $23,436,639
Operating Expenses $5,927,364
Total:  $29,364,003

Department of Tax Administration
Compensation $20,201,761
Operating Expenses $5,740,489
Total:  $25,942,250

Department of Family Services
Compensation $106,361,435
Operating Expenses $112,527,053
Work Performed for Others ($534,749)
Total:  $218,353,739

Department of Information Technology
Compensation $25,249,599
Operating Expenses $9,838,540
Total:  $35,088,139

Health Department
Compensation $43,102,196
Operating Expenses $19,324,898
Total:  $62,427,094

Office to Prevent and End Homelessness
Compensation $1,968,668
Operating Expenses $12,385,861
Total:  $14,354,529

Office of Strategy Management for Health and Human Services
Compensation $3,389,321
Operating Expenses $474,448
Total:  $3,863,769

Department of Neighborhood and Community Services
Compensation $18,533,975
Operating Expenses $21,549,629
Work Performed for Others ($8,946,636)
Total:  $31,136,968

Circuit Court and Records
Compensation $9,772,931
Operating Expenses $1,990,826
Total:  $11,763,757

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Compensation $21,820,689
Operating Expenses $2,659,237
Total:  $24,479,926

Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney
Compensation $3,963,293
Operating Expenses $120,634
Total:  $4,083,927

General District Court
Compensation $3,322,251
Operating Expenses $909,165
Total:  $4,231,41

Unclassified Administrative Expenses (Public Works)
Operating Expenses $3,953,694
Work Performed for Others ($5,000)
Total:  $3,948,694


Unclassified Administrative Expenses (Nondepartmental)
Operating Expenses $1,973,787
Total:  $1,973,787

Employee Benefits
Benefits $390,122,460
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $2,594,641
Operating Expenses $1,387,850
Work Performed for Others ($2,794,868)
Total:  $391,310,083

Police Department
Compensation $175,136,797
Operating Expenses $28,884,935
Work Performed for Others ($697,406)
Capital Outlay $154,744
Total:  $203,479,070

Office of the Sheriff
Compensation $60,595,152
Operating Expenses $10,145,037
Total:  $70,740,18

Fire and Rescue Department
Compensation $180,113,118
Operating Expenses $29,263,305
Total:  $209,376,423

Office of Emergency Management
Compensation $1,394,228
Operating Expenses $508,829
Total:  $1,903,057

Department of Animal Sheltering
Compensation $1,982,729
Operating Expenses $642,914
Total:  $2,625,643

Department of Code Compliance
Compensation $4,089,065
Operating Expenses $541,380
Total:  $4,630,445

Consolidated Community Funding Pool
Operating Expenses $11,698,785
$11,698,785

Contributory Fund
Operating Expenses $13,675,489
Total:  $13,675,489

Information Technology
IT Projects $3,604,750
Total:  $3,604,750

Consolidated Debt Service
Bond Expenses $349,973,431
Total:  $349,973,431

Metro Operations and Construction
County Services $47,978,553
Total:  $47,978,55

General Construction and Contributions
Capital Projects $20,736,476
Total:  $20,736,476

Pedestrian Walkway Improvements
Capital Projects $600,000
Total:  $600,000

The Penny for Affordable Housing FunD
Capital Projects $18,000,000
Total:  $18,000,000

County Transit Systems
Operating Expenses $97,381,760
Capital Outlay $3,805,000
Total:  $101,186,760

County and Regional Transportation Projects
Compensation $4,349,179
Benefits $1,663,042
Operating Expenses $2,078,291
Capital Projects $54,076,686
Total:  $62,167,198

Cable Communications
Compensation $4,520,552
Benefits $2,056,214
Operating Expenses $7,941,235
Capital Outlay $550,000
Total:  $15,068,000

Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board
Compensation $78,528,989
Benefits $34,920,966
Operating Expenses $58,236,238
Work Performed for Others ($1,738,980)
Total:  $169,947,213

Reston Community Center  
Compensation $3,976,655
Benefits $1,551,254
Operating Expenses $2,776,477
Total:  $8,304,386

McLean Community Center
Compensation $2,436,154
Benefits $969,444
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $3,000
Operating Expenses $2,205,481
Total:  $5,614,079

Burgundy Village Community Center
Compensation $19,107
Benefits $1,410
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $21
Operating Expenses $25,625
Total:  $46,163

Integrated Pest Management Program
Compensation $1,115,907
Benefits $318,824
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $494
Operating Expenses $1,827,353
Total:  $3,262,578

E-911
Compensation $19,025,923
Benefits $8,407,640
Operating Expenses $14,108,728
IT Projects $8,507,552
Total:  $50,049,843

Stormwater Services
Compensation $13,768,502
Benefits $6,580,447
Operating Expenses $3,061,636
Work Performed for Others ($2,129,955)
Capital Outlay $808,000
Capital Projects $54,672,620
Total:  $76,761,250

Dulles Rail Phase I Transportation Improvement District
Bond Expenses $15,575,650
Total:  $15,575,650

Dulles Rail Phase II Transportation Improvement District
Bond Expenses $500,000
Total:  $500,000

Metrorail Parking System Pledged Revenues
Capital Projects $9,061,861
Total:  $9,061,86

Leaf Collection
Compensation $508,166
Benefits $13,586
Operating Expenses $1,362,014
Total:  $1,883,766


Refuse Collection and Recycling Operations
Compensation $6,718,929
Benefits $3,383,011
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $63,260
Operating Expenses $7,453,905
Work Performed for Others ($69,959)
Capital Outlay $1,009,000
Total:  $18,558,146

Refuse Disposal
Compensation $10,267,790
Benefits $3,562,411
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $150,900
Operating Expenses $38,774,595
Work Performed for Others ($97,505)
Capital Outlay $1,500,000
Total:  $54,158,191

I-95 Refuse Disposal
Compensation $3,094,072
Benefits $972,209
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $21,473
Operating Expenses $3,280,606
Capital Outlay $640,000
Total:  $8,008,360

Housing Trust Fund
Capital Projects $689,954
Total:  $689,954

Elderly Housing Programs
Compensation $449,536
Benefits $157,680
Operating Expenses $2,660,950
Total:  $3,268,166

Homeowner and Business Loan Programs
Operating Expenses $2,554,631
Total:  $2,554,631

Federal/State Grants
Grant Expenditures $120,067,889
Total:  $120,067,889

Community Development Block Grant
Grant Expenditures $4,974,689
Total:  $4,974,689

HOME Investment Partnerships
Grant Expenditures $1,530,449
Total:  $1,530,449

County Insurance
Compensation $1,195,525
Benefits $495,007
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $15,294,639
Operating Expenses $9,911,769
Work Performed for Others ($250,000)
Total:  $26,646,940

Department of Vehicle Services
Compensation $17,474,219
Benefits $6,925,054
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $125,000
Operating Expenses $39,732,938
Capital Outlay $18,698,498
Total:  $82,955,709


Document Services
Compensation $1,498,119
Benefits $744,312
Operating Expenses $7,633,698
Total:  $9,876,129

Technology Infrastructure Services
Compensation $6,160,796
Benefits $2,075,732
Operating Expenses $30,967,871
Capital Outlay $4,800,000
Total:  $44,004,399

Health Benefits
Compensation $225,000
Benefits $75,000
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $195,699,805
Operating Expenses $485,664
Capital Outlay $10,000
Total:  $196,495,469

Sewer Operation and Maintenance
Compensation $22,343,802
Benefits $9,440,943
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $182,000|
Operating Expenses $68,591,063
Work Performed for Others ($598,010)
Capital Outlay $1,778,001
Total:  $101,737,799

Sewer Bond Parity Debt Service
Bond Expenses $25,036,131
Total:  $25,036,131

Sewer Bond Subordinate Debt Service
Bond Expenses $25,781,875
Total:  $25,781,875

Sewer Construction Improvements
Capital Projects $70,000,000
Total:  $70,000,000

Route 28 Taxing District
Operating Expenses $11,983,354
Total:  $11,983,354

Mosaic District Community
Development Authority
Bond Expenses $5,406,400
Total:  $5,406,400

Employees' Retirement Trust
Compensation $1,873,127
Benefits $858,402
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $956
Operating Expenses $402,732,602
Total:  $405,465,087

Uniformed Employees Retirement Trust
Compensation $401,475
Benefits $183,802
Operating Expenses $137,610,265
Total:  $138,195,542

Police Retirement Trust
Compensation $401,165
Benefits $183,805
Operating Expenses $99,992,516
Total:  $100,577,486

OPEB Trust
Compensation $98,169
Benefits $29,090
Non-Pay Employee Benefits $118
Operating Expenses $12,376,152
Total:  $12,503,529

 

 

 

 

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