“This budget protects core government functions while it prioritizes stable and reliable social safety net services and programs during these uncertain economic times” Chair Takis Karantonis said. “We are thankful not only to our staff, but to the public for engaging with us on how to create a budget that deeply reflects our community values.” 

After careful deliberation on the options presented, the Arlington County Board concurred with the Manager’s recommendations to keep the real estate property tax rate at $1.033 per $100 of assessed value and increase the meals tax rate from 4% to 5%. The Board directed the manager to add $11 million to the County’s Economic Stabilization Reserve.  

The adopted budget strives to meet the unique challenges of this budget cycle by ensuring the efficiency and quality of mission critical functions and services, supporting the most vulnerable community members, and reflecting deep commitments to advancing key county objectives, such as addressing the housing and climate crises.   

Given the challenging economic and fiscal outlook for the County, reductions and efficiencies are an unavoidable, difficult, and consequential part of this year’s budget. This budget sees $11.9 million in service and program reductions and efficiencies, including the elimination of more than 40 filled, vacant, and frozen positions.  

After months of study, evaluation, and community feedback on funding priorities, the County Board-approved budget made numerous investments, including in the following areas:  

• Housing: $102M for housing programs to provide direct assistance to stabilize households and improve housing conditions, including $29.3M for Housing Choice Vouchers; $17.7M for Housing Grants; $7M for Permanent Supportive Housing; $7.8M for Shelters for Homeless, Transitional Housing, and Domestic Violence Survivors.  

• Human Services: $280K for Arlington Food Assistance Center and $105K for Meals on Wheels; $358K for a child care license system; $243K for implementation of the Virginia Quality Birth to Five program; and $350K in one-time funding for the Culpepper Garden Assisted living Facility Subsidy.  

• Environmental Sustainability: One-time funding in the following efforts: $500K for Climate Action Planning; $240K for additional tree planting; $223K for tree watering and invasive plant management; and $124K for the expansion of the EV fleet.  

• Public Safety: $2.2M in one-time funding for the second recruit class for Fire; $394K for body worn cameras for Police and Sheriff; $266K for medication assisted treatment and medication for Opioid Use Disorder for inmates; and $232K for contracted security.  

• Arlington Public Schools: $647.4M, an increase of 3.6% or $22.6M over FY 2025 in ongoing funding, was transferred to Arlington’s school system.  

The Board held public budget and tax rate hearings in March 2025 with opportunities for public comment. Since January, the County Board has received phone calls, emails, and letters regarding different areas of the budget and has considered them as part of their deliberations.  

Guidance to the County Manager
In adopting the budget, the County Board also provided supplemental budget guidance to the County Manager that outlines the thought and intention behind additional funding to critical areas of the FY 2026 budget. These include:   

• $1M increase in one-time funding for homeless services contracts that are currently in the Request for Proposal negotiations process. This additional funding, beyond the $2.5M in the proposed budget, will help to close on these contracts.  

• $308K in ongoing funding to restore two positions proposed for elimination, ISD Construction Plan Review ($170K) and Code Enforcement ($138K). 

• $300K for local childcare subsidies, for a pilot-type program to bridge wait times for families who are eligible for state subsidies but are on the waitlist, especially Arlington’s low-income families who are awaiting support.

• $227K in one-time funding to the Sheriff’s Office to be used for bonuses to 83 employees who are in roles that are inmate-facing. 

• $184K to the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office to provide a temporary communication staff ($100K one-time funding) and to convert the Commonwealth Attorney III position into a Commonwealth Attorney Deputy ($84K ongoing funding).  

• $192K to the Public Defender’s Office to support a Re-Entry Coordinator Fellowship ($107K one-time funding) and to increase its non-attorney salary supplement ($85K ongoing funding). 

• $150K in one-time funding for Food Security Mini Grants, allowing for a third round of grant funding available to local nonprofits to implement select aspects of the County’s Food Security Strategic Plan. 

• $109K in funding to defer by one year the proposed Developmental Services fee increases for childcare facilities ($6K ongoing funding), live entertainment & food delivery services ($14K ongoing funding), and Adaptive Reuse ($88K one-time funding). 

• $100K in one-time funding to Arlington Libraries for digital collections.  

• $87K to restore one-time funding for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.  

• $60K in one-time funding to the County Board Office to support Ranked-Choice Voting Education efforts. 

Read the full Board’s Supplemental Budget Guidance here.  

The new fiscal year begins July 1, 2025