Jim Parajon | ALXnow

Alexandria Library Board faces backlash after ousting member over city takeover study

Published April 21, 2026 at 2:45PM

Image via Alexandria Library/Facebook

Criticism has been leveled against the Alexandria Library Board after Libby Bawcombe, a voting member, was expelled earlier this month for supporting a study on converting the library system into a city department.

At a special meeting of the Alexandria Library Company on April 8, Bawcombe was expelled by a secret ballot for voting with three other Library Board members in February to direct Alexandria Library Director Rose Dawson to work with city staff on assessing the library system’s transition into a city department.

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City Council to hold public hearings on Sunday parking fees, more budget decisions

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2026 at 3:45PM

An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council has a full docket at its upcoming meeting Saturday as final budgetary decisions approach.

City Council will conduct a number of public hearings, including setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for the next fiscal year, additions and deletions to City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, an increase to the stormwater utility fee, new parking fees and the addition of paid metered parking on Sundays.

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Sunday paid parking proposal opposed by majority of Alexandria City Council

By James Cullum

Published April 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

A majority of Alexandria’s City Council won’t support City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal for paid parking on Sundays, but the door to increasing parking meter rates and fines is still open.

City Council had first reading on a number of parking-related ordinances yesterday (Tuesday), which, if approved later this month, would increase parking meter rates and parking ticket fines and add paid parking to metered spots on Sundays.

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Alexandria City Council moves forward with stormwater utility fee increase

By James Cullum

Published April 15, 2026 at 11:45AM

A truck drives through a flooded area of Union Street in Old Town, October 29, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council unanimously approved moving forward with an increase to the city’s stormwater utility fee yesterday (Tuesday).

City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal increases the city’s stormwater utility fee rate from $340.30 to $357.40 per billing unit, equating to a roughly $26 addition to tax bills. City Council’s first reading vote sets the ordinance to go before a public hearing on Saturday, April 18, followed by a second reading before Council at its budget adoption meeting on Wednesday, April 29.

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Alexandria city manager pushes for paid parking on Sundays, parking fee increase

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 10:14PM

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon is asking City Council to approve paid parking on Sundays and an increase in parking meter rates.

The initiatives are included in Parajon’s proposed $977.3 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget and have gotten mixed reviews. If approved by City Council, the measure would make Alexandria the only locality in the region with parking meter enforcement on Sundays. Additionally, Parajon is proposing to increase parking violation fines from $40 to $50.

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City Council scrutinizes funding gap for ACPS collective bargaining agreement

By James Cullum

Published March 16, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated March 18, 2026 at 12:06PM

Alexandria City Council Member Canek Aguirre (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members are pressing for more answers before they can fill a $5.65 million budget gap to pay for Alexandria City Public Schools’ first-ever collective bargaining agreement.

Earlier this month, the School Board approved its $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association of Alexandria, promising a step increase for all eligible employees (and an extra step for staff employed since 2010), a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for licensed staff, a 3.5% COLA for support staff and a $2,000 longevity bonus for support staff.

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Despite School Board protest, City Council votes to change ACPS appropriation process

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2026 at 1:00PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins in Council Chambers, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City Council ignored a plea from the School Board Tuesday night, unanimously approving a resolution to change how the city appropriates funding to Alexandria City Public Schools.

City Council’s resolution directs ACPS, in preparation for the Fiscal Year 2028 budget, to submit estimates for funds needed through major classifications instead of a lump sum. The School Board asked that the move, which was introduced at a March 4 joint work session with City Council, be postponed as it restricts the school system from redirecting budgeted funds to pay for programs and services.

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City Council sets one-cent tax hike as ceiling for budget talks

By James Cullum

Published March 11, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria City Council Member John Taylor Chapman (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s City Council set a one-cent ceiling for the city’s real estate tax rate on Tuesday night.

City Councilman John Taylor Chapman made the motion to increase the ceiling, which is not the final adopted tax rate. While City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget has no tax increase, the one-cent ceiling gives the city more options in crafting the budget, which is set for a final council vote on April 29.

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ACPS board asks City Council to postpone resolution vote on new school funding measure

By James Cullum

Published March 9, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board is asking City Council to postpone voting on a resolution this week that would change how the city appropriates funding to the school system.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins introduced the proposal at City Council’s joint work session with the School Board on March 4. The new system would authorize Council to approve funding allocations by major classification, instead of an annual lump sum. School Board Chair Michelle Rief says that more discussion is needed.

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Democratic City Council candidate Sandy Marks lays out stakes in upcoming special election

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2026 at 1:00PM

Sandy Marks, the Democratic nominee for the open City Council seat, at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Fresh from her recent Democratic firehouse primary win, City Council candidate Sandy Marks says there’s a lot on the line in the upcoming special election.

Marks is facing independent candidates Frank Fannon and Alison O’Connell in the race, which is slated to coincide with a proposed constitutional amendment to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts.

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City Manager unveils $977 million budget proposal without tax increase

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled his proposed $977.3 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget last night (Tuesday).

While the budget is a 2.2% increase from the current FY 2026 budget, Parajon’s proposal keeps the real estate tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, and does not change the city’s refuse rate. He was able to achieve the feat through $9 million “in efficiency reductions, cost cutting savings, and vacant position reductions to balance the budget.”