At the December Recessed Meeting, the County Board directed the County Manager to prepare a balanced FY 2026 budget that ensures stability, efficiency and quality in mission-critical functions of local government, reflects community values, is responsive to the needs of our most vulnerable residents, and values the County’s public employees. Acknowledging the significant economic risks and the uncertainty of declining office property values and changes in the federal administration, the guidance directs that the budget should prioritize fiscal resiliency and reduce adverse impacts on taxpayers.
The Board also directed the Manager to:
- Fully fund collective bargaining agreements. For employees who are not covered by a bargaining unit, present compensation proposals that are consistent with the County’s Total Compensation Philosophy;
- Include funding and/or present funding options for the following affordable housing priorities and social safety net priorities;
- Provide funding to Arlington Public Schools consistent with the Principle of Revenue Sharing and apply the County/School revenue allocation reflected in the FY 2025 adopted budget (53.2% County/46.8% Schools);
- Provide programmatic updates on several priorities as part of the proposed FY 2026 Budget, including: Childcare, Climate Resilience, Economic resiliency, Equity Resolution implementation, Vision Zero implementation, and Youth Well-being and After-school programming;
- Include updated outcome and performance measures, where meaningful and feasible, in the budget narrative;
- Provide in the proposed budget and/or at the relevant departmental work session an estimate of the impact of significant additions, reductions or restructuring to programmatic outcomes and performance as well as considerations of impacts for equity and climate resilience.
DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR PREPARATION OF THE FY 2026 BUDGET