Vienna council hears FY2025–26 budget, agrees to advertise adoption after public input

The Vienna Town Council on April 7 heard a presentation of the town manager’s proposed FY2025–26 operating budget and voted to advertise intent to adopt the plan at its May 19 meeting.

Stephen Barlow, the town’s director of finance, told the council the proposed general fund budget totals $55,400,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. He said the proposal keeps the real‑estate tax rate unchanged at 19.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and reflects a 6.3% residential assessment increase; proposed property tax revenue is $14.9 million. “The proposed fiscal year 26 budget totals $55,400,000,” Barlow said.

The budget includes $957,000 in salary and benefit increases, with a portion allocated to market‑rate and merit adjustments and law‑enforcement step increases. Barlow said about 19% of the proposed increase is for new initiatives ranked by council; the top three are $90,000 for landscaping services, a $200,000 fitness reserve and $25,000 for parade event safety. The town would maintain an approximately 18% reserve and a $1,000,000 revenue stabilization fund.

Council members questioned whether the town should use reserves or the recent American Rescue Plan Act funding to lower rates. Barlow said the town received $17,000,000 in ARPA funds directed to capital projects and that those funds helped reduce previously projected water and sewer rate increases. “Thanks to ARPA … we were able to bring that back down,” he said, describing alternatives that would have required larger service‑reducing cuts.

Resident Matthew DeFiori spoke during the public hearing, praising staff work on the budget but urging better public access to the 355‑page budget book used in work sessions and clearer records of resident input. He also asked the council to consider inventory accounting and whether the town leverages Fairfax County services to augment town capacity.

After discussion about the window for changes between the public hearing and adoption, Council member Springsteen moved that the clerk advertise a notice of intent to adopt the FY2025–26 budget at the May 19 council meeting. The motion passed on roll call 6–1 (Council member Allen recorded a Nay).

What’s next: Council may still tweak the proposed budget between now and adoption; staff said decreases are possible but increases would trigger re‑advertising. Adoption is scheduled for May 19, 2025.