Design Your Own County Budget?
Want to see a new dog park in Fairfax County? Or would you prefer your favorite rec center to stay open a little longer? The Fairfax County budget is now in your hands. Temporarily.
The Board of Supervisors is currently in the process of crafting the FY 2014 budget, and they want your help.
“We wanted to put you in the chair of a member of the Board of Supervisors, so we created this budget simulation to let you craft your ideal Fairfax County budget,” said Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock).
Before you is the FY 2014 budget proposed by the county executive. Your job is to amend it as you see fit. Are you satisfied with county services? Are you satisfied with the proposed tax rate? If not, here's your chance to show us what you'd change.
You may find the rules constraining.
“That's because in real life they are as well,” Cook said. “We hope this exercise will help you understand the budget process better, and provide the Board with some ideas on how we should approach this effort in real life.”
Get out your calculator, and go to these links to get started on your budget.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/letter-simulation.pdf,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/advertised/fy2014-reductions.pdf,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/advertised/cex-memo-bos-reductions-not-taken.pdf.
—Victoria Ross
Recycle During Electric Sunday
Residents may recycle old TVs, computers, peripheral electronic devices—such as keyboards, speakers, printers and scanners, as well as household hazardous wastes, including fluorescent light bulbs and tubes—for free during Fairfax County’s “Electric Sunday” events. The next one is slated for Sunday, March 24, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the I-95 Complex, 9850 Furnace Road in Lorton. For more information, call 703-324-5052.
RR Museum Needs Volunteers
The Fairfax Station Railroad Museum is currently looking for volunteers. Run by the Friends of the Fairfax Station, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, this community museum played an important role in local history from pre-Civil War days through the mid-20th century.
Many types of volunteer opportunities are available, including docents to give tours to the public or work in the gift shop on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Training will be provided.
The museum also sponsors many special events such as Civil War forums and the Holiday Train Show. It’s at 11200 Fairfax Station Road in Fairfax Station. To volunteer, call Michael Chinworth at 703-506-0753 or 703-945-7483. For more information about the museum, go to www.fairfax-station.org.