Falls Church council holds first readings on FY2026 budget and utility rates; vehicle tax set at $5 for first reading

The Falls Church City Council granted first reading on April 14 to the city’s FY2026 budget and the related tax and utility rate ordinances and scheduled public hearings for April 28 and May 12.

City Manager Shields and finance staff presented a high‑level summary of the proposed FY2026 operating budget, which includes $57.7 million for general government operations and a $69.5 million school budget; the staff packet notes the proposed transfer to schools of $55.6 million. The proposed capital improvements program for FY2026‑FY2031 includes $26.2 million in project spending, with the largest line items for transportation improvements and a sanitary‑sewer detention vault concept estimated at roughly $10 million.

Staff told council that a revised revenue forecast reduced the FY2026 revenue estimate by $1.2 million due to softer sales and meals tax receipts. To preserve…