Alexandria's City Manager Jim Parajon has proposed a $911.3 million budget for the city's 2025 fiscal year, which starts July 1. That is a 3% increase from the current year. The budget for the current year is just $884.3 million.
Unlike in Fairfax County, the city is not proposing any increase in the real estate tax rate for residential property owners or other taxes.
The proposed budget also fully funds the request from Alexandria City Public Schools, increases salaries (particularly for library employees), and expands affordable housing.
After public input and related adjustments, the City Council is scheduled to adopt the budget on May 1 for the 2025 fiscal year. The first opportunity for public comments and questions is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, where City Manager Parajon will present the proposed FY 2025 budget to the public.
The following is from the City of Alexandria:
On Tuesday, February 27, City Manager James Parajon presented City Council with a proposed operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The FY 2025 budget adoption is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1. The FY 2025 budget proposal is made possible through a months-long collaborative effort that aligns City Council’s priorities with the thoughtful input of the City of Alexandria departments, collective partners, and community.
City Manager Parajon proposed a General Fund Operating Budget of $911.3 million (beginning July 1), as well as a $2.33 billion 10-year Capital Improvement Program CIP for FY 2025 - 2034. This budget was guided by City Council’s priorities.
In FY 2025, the City will continue to build onto past years’ ongoing significant investments leading to increased service enhancements. This budget proposal reiterates the City’s commitment through:
- Collective Bargaining: We have expanded our bargaining units, adding Labor & Trades, to our existing Police and Fire agreements. This provides a space for union employees to negotiate pay, benefits, safety policies, and other key terms of employment. That is a total of $3.7 million in FY 2025 for all three bargaining groups.
- Staff Retention and Recruitment: We continue our pursuit to become an “Employer of Choice” throughout the region by committing funding for a 2% pay scale adjustment for non-collectively bargained employees and step increases from 2.3 to 5%. Library employees will see a targeted increase of $440,000 following a mid-year compensation study.
- Commitment to Education: The proposed budget fully funds the Superintendent’s Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Operating Budget. This includes a 10-year CIP, totaling $314.0 million, for two elementary schools, and the maintenance of existing school facilities.
- Affordable Housing: We continue to invest in providing affordable housing and eviction prevention funding totaling $33.1 million.
- Economic Strength: Continued commitment to once-in-a-generation investments through the City’s 10-year CIP including the Landmark Mall Redevelopment, Del Pepper Community Center, and Waterfront Flood Mitigation.
Other major features of the FY 2025 budget proposal include:
- No proposed changes in real estate tax, personal property tax, or other tax rates for City residents or businesses.
- The Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus will remain ‘fare free’ for riders.
Participate in Alexandria’s FY 2025 Budget
It is imperative our constituents understand the budget process to support their need to ask questions and provide feedback. There are opportunities to learn more and ask questions during numerous public meetings in the coming months.
On Thursday, February 29 at 7 p.m. at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, City Manager Parajon will present the proposed FY 2025 Budget to the public.
To ask questions and provide feedback, please attend the following public meetings:
- Monday, March 11: FY 2025 Budget Public Hearing
- Saturday, March 16: Budget Public Hearing
- Saturday, April 13: Add/Delete Public Hearing
- Wednesday, April 24: Tax Rate Public Hearing
We also invite our residents to share thoughts on the budget by using the online Budget Input Form. For more information about Alexandria’s FY2025 Budget process and events, please visit alexandriava.gov/Budget.
