Alexandria City Council

Alexandria leaders brace for budget cuts, potential tax increases

Published November 9, 2026 at 3:45PM

City Council at its annual budget retreat, Sat. Nov. 7, 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

City Manager Jim Parajon and his staff laid out a stark budget reality at Alexandria City Council’s annual budget retreat.

As he contends with an estimated $10 million to $15 million budget shortfall in the 2028 fiscal year budget, Parajon is asking all city departments to submit their budget proposals to him with 3% cuts. He’s also asking that Alexandria City Public Schools limit its operating budget transfer request to 2.25% over what was approved in the current budget, amounting to a cap of $7.1 million.

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Alexandria City Council considers expanding helmet mandate for youth to e-scooters, e-bikes

By Emily Leayman

Published November 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

A previously submerged scooter at the Old Town waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amid regional safety concerns about youth riding electric scooters and bicycles, Alexandria City Council will consider expanding the city’s helmet requirement for young riders.

According to city code, bicycle riders 14 and under are already required to wear a helmet. The city code update would apply the same rule to electric power-assisted bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, motorized skateboards and motorized scooters as well.

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Does Alexandria need a jail? City seeks feedback in new survey

By James Cullum

Published November 5, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated November 5, 2026 at 5:12PM

The William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center (via Google Maps)

Alexandria has operated its jail for nearly 200 years, and now the city is asking residents whether it should stay in operation.

The city’s survey on whether to continue operating the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center or consider other options is available online until Nov. 20. Meanwhile, city staff have spent months working on the $200,000 jail study, with a goal of presenting City Council a report by the end of the year.

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Alexandria City Council to kick off budget talks Saturday in annual retreat

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Alexandria City Council (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council will start its annual budget deliberations with a retreat in the West End on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Council will meet with city departments and get a revenue forecast, expenditure overview and other preliminary budget gap information. Alexandria City Public Schools, for instance, takes up nearly 30% of the city’s budget and faces a $17 million budget gap and is working toward a collective bargaining agreement the School Board wants approved before the next fiscal year starts on July 1, 2027.

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Community Lodgings seeks late 2026 approvals for 91-unit affordable housing complex in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published October 30, 2026 at 9:15AM

Community Lodgings’ proposed redevelopment of 3908, 3912 and 3916 Elbert Avenue in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday (Oct. 27) got a sneak peek at plans to replace three apartment buildings with a 91-unit affordable housing building in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood.

Last February, Community Lodgings, Inc. [CLI] asked the city for an extension on the construction timeline for its project at 3908, 3912 and 3916 Elbert Avenue. The special use permit to demolish three 1940s-era buildings with 28 apartments and replace them with a six-story, 91-unit building with 182 total bedrooms was previously approved by City Council in 2023, but it expired earlier this year.

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Alexandria City Council hires interim independent policing auditor

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Alexandria Police Department on scene of a West End shooting, June 20, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously hired the city’s interim independent policing auditor on Tuesday night.

Florence Finkle of the California-based OIR Group will sign her contract to be the interim auditor on Oct. 29, as the city begins a national search for the permanent position.

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Alexandria City Council to appoint interim independent policing auditor tonight

By James Cullum

Published October 27, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council will appoint an interim independent policing auditor at its meeting tonight (Oct. 27).

The interim auditor to investigate allegations of police misconduct will be revealed at City Council’s meeting at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).

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Alexandria City School Board weighs first raise since 2007, alongside major election overhaul

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated November 6, 2026 at 1:34PM

The Alexandria School Board at its meeting on Aug. 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Elected officials are considering major organizational changes for the Alexandria City School Board, including increasing pay for its members by 187% starting on Jan. 1, 2028.

Earlier this month, the School Board discussed increasing member pay from $15,000 to $28,000 on Jan. 1, 2028, and then by $5,000 every July 1 until members make $43,000 (a 187% total raise) in the 2031 fiscal year.

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City Council OKs field lights and athletic expansion at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School

By James Cullum

Published October 22, 2026 at 2:45PM

Construction of this pavilion has been approved at St. Stephens and St. Agnes School (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously and without discussion approved a sweeping plan to expand athletic facilities and field lighting to St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in the city’s West End.

Council approved the plan on Saturday (Oct. 17) to add a new 1,500-square-foot concessions building with bathrooms, bleachers, a 715-square-foot, open-air covered pavilion, a new 770-square-foot storage shed and press box as well as eight, 85-foot-tall field lights at the school’s Kelleher and Moss fields.

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City Council approves townhouse development project in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

Rendering of new development proposed for 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street in the Parker-Gray District (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council has approved a plan to convert a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes.

Despite a 6-0 approval from the Planning Commission, Council deferred the plan last month to have more discussions with the property owner about keeping neighborhood-serving commercial businesses on the site. A representative of the property owner told Council that the most interested buyers were townhome developers.

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ACPS projects $17 million shortfall as budget talks start

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2026 at 3:45PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a $17 million shortfall as it starts its 2028 fiscal year budget deliberations.

Dominic Turner, the school system’s chief financial officer, laid out a stark reality with rapidly rising expenditures on Wednesday night at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus.