Tax Rate Stays the Same in FY 2026 Proposed Budget
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, City Manager James Parajon presented the proposed operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 to the Alexandria City Council.
Balancing the Books
Members of the city council identify priorities.
Affordable housing, teacher pay and guaranteed income are among the topics being considered by members of City Council as they approach a budget vote on May 1.
City Budget Will Be Adopted May 1
Since City Manager James Parajon presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Proposed Budget to the City Council and community, the City Council has held several work sessions with City leaders to assess the current state of resources and programs.
Reston Association Chooses New CEO
One-on-one interview with Mac Cummins, AICP
One-on-one interview with Mac Cummins, AICP
Voters to Determine Direction of City
Republican Annetta Catchings challenges incumbent Democrat Justin Wilson for mayor.
The race for mayor comes down to a simple question: Are Alexandria voters happy with the direction of the city or not?
Contaminated Legacy
From slave plantation to industrial pollution, a hidden history of North Old Town.
The shuttered power plant dominating the landscape in North Old Town has layers of industrial pollution, a hidden history buried under the contaminated soil of the Potomac River Generating Station. Even before the coal-fired power plant was constructed in 1949, the property was home to the American Chlorophyll Company and Potomac River Clay Works. That means the long and complicated task known as "remediating" the property could mean removing everything from coal ash and mercury to industrial fertilizer and hazardous metals.
Reform Is in the Bag
City Council to consider new five-cent tax for each plastic bag.
Alexandria started pressing for a plastic bag tax when George W. Bush was in the White House and Virginia was a red state. Now the years of advocacy have finally paid off, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30) has been able to pass a bill giving City Hall authority to impose a five-cent tax on each and every plastic bag that's used in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Alexandria Council Approves 2022 Budget
SROs removed against ACPS recommendation
The Alexandria City Council formally approved City Manager Mark Jinks’ proposed $770.7 million operating budget for 2022, which eliminates funding for School Resource Officers in Alexandria City Public Schools.
Following the Money
City Council candidates raise money from friends and supporters.
Running a campaign for the Alexandria City Council isn't cheap. Former Mayor Bill Euille says he often advises potential candidates they'll need to raise $20,000 to $30,000 just to get through the primary and then twice that for the general election.
Gutter Politics
City Council candidates campaign on fixing Alexandria's flooding problem.
None of the candidates for Alexandria City Council are for flooding, which has swamped the city's aging infrastructure in recent years as a series of major storm events have repeatedly submerged parts of Alexandria.
City Election: Yo Yo Road Diet
Four Democrats support four lanes on Seminary Road.
The lingering resentment over Seminary Road bike lanes comes with a price tag, somewhere between $300,000 and $700,000 — a cost four City Council candidates say they’re willing to pay for returning four lanes of traffic to the street.
Alexandria Council Approves the Heritage Project
Vote is unanimous on Old Town development.
The controversial Heritage at Old Town development project will move forward following unanimous approval by the Alexandria City Council at its Feb. 20 public hearing.
Being There
How much virtual participation it too much?
Advocates for open government worry about too much virtual participation. Virginia Press Association executive director Betsy Edwards says the law is designed to make sure the public and the press have an opportunity to ask members of the Planning Commission why they voted against a zoning change and or why the mayor voted for a bike lane. She worried that unlimited virtual participation would limit availability to the public and the press to ask questions and get answers.
Civilian Oversight
City Council members to consider creating citizen board to investigate police
Last spring, disparities in law enforcement created a groundswell of support for a new civilian review board in Alexandria, a group that could investigate excessive use of force and abuse of authority. Since that time, the General Assembly passed a new law giving these kinds of bodies authority to subpoena documents and witnesses as well as make binding disciplinary determinations. Now members of the City Council are about to consider several options for what kind of civilian review board they want to create.
Previous Next