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News

Alexandria schools take lion’s share of planned tax rate increase, but it’s still less than School Board hoped

By Vernon Miles
The first day at school at George Mason Elementary School, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is the biggest winner of a 2.5 cent tax rate increase being considered by City Council, but it still falls short of the budget voted on by the School Board.

The School Board voted earlier this year to request $384.4 million from the City Council — $21 million more than previous budgets and double the budget proposed by Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt. Mayor Justin Wilson previously said that fulfilling that budget request would require an unprecedented 6-cent tax increase.

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News

Alexandria City Council conducting public hearing on a tax rate increase

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s City Council will approve its fiscal year 2025 budget in a little more than a week, and important actions will be taken between now and then.

On Wednesday (April 24), Council will hold a public hearing on the city’s tax rate. Last month, a 4-cent tax ceiling was approved for consideration, allowing city staff and local legislators wiggle room in analyzing funding options in exchange for raising taxes. Each penny added to the tax rate is about $4.7 million, and a 4-cent tax increase would bring in $18.8 million.

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News

New report says Alexandria’s service request hotline is gradually getting more responsive

By Vernon Miles
(photo via Alex311/Facebook)

Over time, Alexandria’s Alex311 service hotline has been getting better at responding to requests from locals.

The City of Alexandria usually gets a little over 30,000 requests through the Alex311 hotline. Those range from reports of missed trash collection to questions about trees and potholes.

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News

Alexandria considering big plans for properties next to Eisenhower Avenue Metro station

By James Cullum
A map showing the potential phased development of the 79-acre Hoffman property in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via City of Alexandria)

New parks, 400-foot-tall commercial and residential buildings and more.

The Hoffman family and its associates have a comprehensive idea for the future of the 79-acre site next door to the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood.

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Opinion

Poll: Should Alexandria adopt a ward system for City Council elections?

By Vernon Miles
The Alexandria City Council at it's March 12, 2024 meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new advocacy group called the Communities for Accountable City Council (CACC) is pushing for Alexandria to return to a wards/district system for City Council elections.

Currently, all members of Alexandria’s City Council are elected at-large. A ward or district system would, like the School Board, have City Council members elected from and represent certain neighborhoods.

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News

Kevin Harris taking second shot in campaign for Alexandria City Council

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Council Candidate Kevin Harris, a professional basketball trainer who is also president of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority resident association (staff photo by James Cullum)

Kevin Harris didn’t like the way the 2021 City Council primary went down and now he’s taking another shot.

Harris was edged out by just 750 votes, with Council Member Kirk McPike taking the sixth and last available Council spot. Now he faces 11 opponents in the upcoming June primary.

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News

Alexandria City Council approves new ‘neighborhood’ at former Vulcan Materials site

By James Cullum
The site plan for the former Vulcan Materials site in the West End (via City of Alexandria)

After years of planning, a new neighborhood was just approved to replace the former Vulcan Materials site in Alexandria’s West End.

City Council approved the proposal 5-1 at their Saturday public hearing, with City Council Member Canek Aguirre voting in opposition.

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News

Local organization forms to push Alexandria back to district/ward elections

By Vernon Miles
Anti-Zoning for Housing sign in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new advocacy group has formed in hopes of returning Alexandria to a district/wards election system.

The Communities for Accountable City Council (CACC) describes itself as a non-partisan group of Alexandria residents “exasperated with the intransigent Alexandria City Council that is unaccountable to communities and neighborhoods because of Alexandria’s At-Large election system.”

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News

What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: Del Ray Dog Fest, Spring Garden Market, Spring Oysterfest, and more!

By Ryan Belmore
The Dogs Of Del Ray mural outside stomping ground is expected to be finished by mid-May. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! 

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

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