Arlington County Board opens public comment for 2026 bond referenda | The Locally Times
The $1.65 billion FY 2025 budget increases the real estate tax rate to $1.033 per $100 of assessed value.
The Arlington County Board opened the public comment period for the 2026 bond referenda, which will fund capital projects for county infrastructure and facilities. This follows the board's unanimous adoption of a $1.65 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The budget includes a 2-cent increase to the base real estate tax rate, setting it at $1.033 per $100 of assessed value. ## Budget Impact The FY 2025 budget funds public safety, behavioral health, and environmental sustainability. The 2-cent base rate increase adds $100 per year to the tax bill for a home assessed at $500,000. The county implemented a new stormwater utility fee, which reduced the base tax rate by 1.7 cents. The budget allocates $639.7 million to Arlington Public Schools, a $30.4 million increase over FY 2024. This includes $624.8 million in ongoing support and $14.9 million in one-time investments. ## Housing Funding Data from the Arlington Community Foundation shows 10,000 renter households earn 30% or less of the area median income, with 164 committed affordable units available to them. These units account for 1.4% of the county's total committed affordable stock. The board allocated $1 million in the FY 2025 budget to buy down apartment rents for households in this income bracket. The county continues to use the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, a pool of money dedicated to the development of new housing, to support additional units. ## Capital Improvement Planning The bond referenda are part of the biennial Capital Improvement Plan, a 10-year schedule for building and maintaining public infrastructure, including libraries, parks, community centers, and transportation systems. Residents may submit feedback on the budget and the bond referenda through the county's online portal. The board used phone calls, emails, and letters from the public during its April 2024 budget hearings to inform its final deliberations. ## Key Questions **How much will my property taxes change?** The 2-cent increase to the base real estate tax rate adds $100 per year to the tax bill for a home assessed at $500,000. **What are the primary goals of the new budget?** The $1.65 billion budget funds public safety, behavioral health, environmental sustainability, affordable housing, and public schools.