budget

News

Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously adopted its $956.5 million operating budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon said it was challenging crafting a budget that keeps city services without increasing real estate or property taxes. The city’s budget grew 3.2% over the current fiscal year, with its largest line item being a fully-funded Alexandria City Public Schools, as well as significant stormwater management funding for the city’s $2.1 billion FY 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program.

Go to Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’ Read more
News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum
NVTA BRT Action Plan - Potential Network (via NVTA)

Welcome to Friday’s weekly roundup of our top stories.

With ALXnow, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news in Alexandria. This week, we focused on coverage of our local, state, and federal governments. We also reported a lot of crime, including a homicide in the city’s West End.

Go to ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria Read more
News

City Council reaches consensus on budget add/delete proposals

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting on April 22, 2025 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria City Council members reached consensus Tuesday night (April 22) on a series of budget adjustments for fiscal year 2026, including a $1 million transfer to Alexandria City Public Schools and funding for several community initiatives.

Alexandria City Council members submitted numerous budget proposals for consideration. They were first heard and discussed at a FY 2026 Budget Add/Delete Public Hearing on April 8. This add/delete work session allowed council members to propose final changes to City Manager James Parajon’s proposed budget before final adoption on April 30.

Go to City Council reaches consensus on budget add/delete proposals Read more
News

Alexandria City Council members submit budget add/delete proposals for FY 2026

By Ryan Belmore
The Alexandria City Council in session on March 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members have submitted numerous budget proposals for consideration at the upcoming FY 2026 Budget Add/Delete Public Hearing scheduled for April 8.

The proposals, which must be balanced with corresponding cuts or revenue increases, range from increasing support for Alexandria City Public Schools to expanding recreational programs and enhancing public transportation services.

Go to Alexandria City Council members submit budget add/delete proposals for FY 2026 Read more
News

ACPS restarts collective bargaining process as Alexandria renews agreements with police, fire and technical staff

By James Cullum
School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools wants a formalized collective bargaining agreement sent to the city manager by the end of the year, but it comes as the city is renegotiating its agreements with police, fire, and administrative and technical staff.

It’s been a year since the school system failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association of Alexandria (EAA). Last year, the School Board held a public hearing and approved a draft collective bargaining resolution with the goal of presenting the package to City Manager Jim Parajon for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Go to ACPS restarts collective bargaining process as Alexandria renews agreements with police, fire and technical staff Read more
News

Alexandria to formalize schedule for quarterly town hall meetings

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Council Member R. Kirk McPike (staff photo by James Cullum)

Miss your chance to bring up a burning issue at a recent town hall meeting with the Alexandria City Council?

City Council Member R. Kirk McPike is asking City Manager Jim Parajon to formalize a schedule so that Council can hold quarterly town hall meetings. The city will start the effort after Council approves the FY2026 budget and it goes into effect on July 1.

Go to Alexandria to formalize schedule for quarterly town hall meetings Read more
News

No tax rate increase in Alexandria’s proposed budget, but plenty of worry for the future

By Vernon Miles
City Manager James Parajon presenting the FY 2026 budget to City Council (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

While the City Manager’s proposed budget included no tax rate increase, the average real estate tax bill in Alexandria will go up by $353 this year and there was a lot of nervous talk about the region’s future.

City Manager James Parajon presented a budget to the City Council last night defined mostly by budget reductions and a wary eye toward the future of the region given the turmoil in the federal government.

Go to No tax rate increase in Alexandria’s proposed budget, but plenty of worry for the future Read more
News

Alexandria budget pushes back against controversial Jefferson-Houston conversion

By Vernon Miles
City Manager James Parajon presenting the FY 2026 budget (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented the FY 2026 budget to City Council tonight (Tuesday) but one of the major items was something not included in the budget: the conversion of Jefferson-Houston K-8 School to a middle school.

The budget included $21 million to Alexandria City Public Schools in capital funding — funding devoted to major development projects in a capital budget. In a release, the City of Alexandria said the funding was in line with the funding level requested for FY 2026 in the School Board capital funding request.

Go to Alexandria budget pushes back against controversial Jefferson-Houston conversion Read more
News

Alexandria Superintendent proposes budget with higher pay for school staff and more security

By Vernon Miles
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) new proposed budget comes with a raise for school district employees and more security for the schools.

At a budget presentation last night, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt proposed a budget that’s a 4% increase over the current fiscal year’s budget. That increase includes a full-step increase for all eligible staff at the beginning of the contract year and an additional step increase to increase maximum pay, though ACPS staff on a Facebook page for school faculty noted that this doesn’t come with a cost of living adjustment.

Go to Alexandria Superintendent proposes budget with higher pay for school staff and more security Read more
News

Alexandria kicking off budget season next month with $18.3 million budget gap

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria's General Fund revenue sources by percentage (image via City of Alexandria)

It’s Christmas for local government nerds: the annual City of Alexandria budget is almost upon us.

Alexandria said in a release that budget season is set to kick off on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with a presentation to Alexandria’s City Council.

Go to Alexandria kicking off budget season next month with $18.3 million budget gap Read more
View More Stories