Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

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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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’s public housing authority reports progress in first year of rebuild

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

ARHA interim CEO Roy Priest speaks at a resident meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Sept. 24, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After one year of rebuilding Alexandria’s public housing authority following a leadership overhaul, Mayor Alyia Gaskins says much work remains.

In a recent two-hour work session, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority‘s new leadership told City Council that rent ledgers are now correct, resident maintenance issues are being handled, and that their year-over-year budget will get approved in December.

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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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UPDATE: Alexandria voter turnout for 2026 midterm surpasses 2025 general election

By James Cullum

Published November 3, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated November 3, 2026 at 4:59PM

Voting at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than 57% of Alexandria voters have cast ballots in today’s (Nov. 3) congressional midterm election, according to 4 p.m. turnout data released by the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections.

A total of 58,614 votes were reported in Alexandria, representing 57.21% of the city’s 102,451 active registered voters. Many of the turnout can be attributed to 34,417 residents casting early votes, making up about 34% of the city’s active registered voters.

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Sen. Warner takes final aim at GOP in election eve campaign rally in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published November 3, 2026 at 9:15AM

(Left to right) Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-11), U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) at a Democratic rally at Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria’s West End, Nov. 2, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) put a final stamp on his political career Monday night, as the three-term senator and former governor held his last campaign rally in Alexandria.

Flanked by Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Northern Virginia Reps. James Walkinshaw (D-11) and Don Beyer (D-8), Warner heavily criticized President Donald Trump’s administration and congressional Republicans, and called on voters to restore moral leadership to the country.

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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 pulls the plug on Flock cameras following public backlash

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated October 28, 2026 at 2:53PM

A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. (David Goldman/Associated Press file)

After months of public outcry over privacy concerns, Alexandria will shut down its 61 license plate readers and other cameras along public roadways this week.

On Tuesday night, Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon and Police Chief Tarrick McGuire briefed City Council that the department will deactivate all Flock cameras in the city within 48 hours and fully remove them by December.

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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.

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Potomac Yard’s 0% vacancy rate reveals missed opportunity, officials say

By Emily Leayman

Published October 15, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated October 15, 2026 at 2:36PM

Virginia Tech in the background of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Even as Alexandria’s office vacancies improve, city officials learned about a missed opportunity with Potomac Yard’s 0% vacancy rate.

During City Council’s Tuesday (Oct. 13) legislative meeting, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership staff briefed officials on economic progress since City Council in January approved ALX Forward, a framework for the city’s economic future.

News

City Council praises outgoing director of Emergency and Customer Communications

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2026 at 9:15AM

Renee Gordon, the city's director of Emergency and Customer Communications, speaks before City Council on Oct. 13, 2026 (screenshot via City of Alexandria)

Despite being recognized by the City Council and the city manager on Tuesday night, Renee Gordon didn’t seem surprised.

It’s not easy to rattle the city’s director of Emergency and Customer Communications. After 11 years leading the city’s communications center that handles 911, 311, emergency communications and non-emergency communications in the city, Gordon is retiring at the beginning of November.