Budget Processin progress
Status set at the School Board Regular Meeting on May 4, 2026
The City of Fairfax budget process is an ongoing, multi-stakeholder annual cycle that spans from early retreat presentations through spring adoption by the Mayor and City Council.
A presentation on the budget process and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was scheduled at the January 2025 Council Retreat, though no minutes or outcome were recorded. As of April 7, 2026, staff indicated the city was roughly halfway through the FY2027 budget process, with eight budget memos published and council guidance being sought on specific items (notably memo #6). The FY2027 budget was ultimately adopted at a special City Council meeting on May 5, 2026, with FY2027 DRPT grant agreements (~$4.97M) later ratified via consent agenda in September 2026.
The process also intersects with the CIP cycle: CIP requests flow from the School Board through the Planning Commission (November) to the Mayor and City Council (December), with final adoption the following May. As of late October 2026, the FY2028 budget process was being initiated, with community engagement and work sessions planned for November 2026.
Still open
- The state budget had not yet been adopted as of May 4, 2026, leaving significant uncertainty for schools and localities; it is unclear whether/when it was subsequently adopted and what its impacts were.
- A community engagement session on November 5, 2026 and a budget work session on November 7, 2026 were planned to begin informing the FY2028 budget process — outcomes not yet recorded.
- Financial policies and budget guidelines were to be considered at the November 10, 2026 regular meeting following the November 7 work session — outcome not yet recorded.
- The Planning Commission was scheduled to review consolidated CIP requests on November 9 (year unspecified in the October 2026 record), with a subsequent presentation to Mayor and City Council in December — outcomes not yet recorded.
- The city representative seat on the CoC Board (from the December 2025 HHCAB meeting) was pending Council approval, with a request to shift that seat from the Human Services Committee to HHCAB; resolution not yet recorded.
- The Housing Trust Fund vote in September was flagged as needing to occur ahead of the budget process — outcome not confirmed in the record.
- The use and flexibility of newly available public transportation funds (arising from a state budget process item discussed in July 2026) remained to be determined, pending further discussions among local jurisdictions.
What members have said
- Dr. Wright (Superintendent)
At the March 2026 School Board meeting, Superintendent Wright noted there would be significant FY27 budget process work throughout the month, including coordination with the City Council. At the May 4, 2026 HHCAB meeting, Wright provided an update confirming the City of Fairfax budget adoption was scheduled for the following evening (May 5, 2026) and flagged that the state budget had not yet been adopted, with significant implications for schools and localities.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, May 6, 2025 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Jan 11, 2025City Council · item 2Overview of the Budget Process and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Process
A presentation on the City budget process was scheduled for the Council retreat; no outcome recorded as no minutes or actions report exist.
- Continuum of Care Program Funding Update
The THUD bill (Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriations) was highlighted as a key piece of the federal budget process with important implications for HUD's CoC program.
- Mar 2, 2026School Board
Dr. Wright noted there will be significant work related to the FY27 budget process throughout the month, including working with the city council.
- Closing Remarks
The Housing Trust Fund vote in September was framed as needing to occur ahead of the budget process.
passedMotion to close the HHCAB meeting.✓ Light✓ LaCroix✓ Delboy✓ Anderson✓ Vincent✓ Ihara✓ Wilber✓ Jensen✓ Gillespie✓ Napolitano✓ Cabelli✓ Cattaneo✓ Hatch✓ Opoku-Yeboah· Bonaiuto· Derosier· Atwood Superintendent Wright shared updates on the City of Fairfax budget process, noting that final adoption was scheduled for the following evening (May 5, 2026). Superintendent Wright also noted that the state budget had not yet been adopted as of the meeting date.
- Sep 8, 2026City Council · item 6Consent Agenda
The city manager was authorized to sign FY 2027 DRPT grant agreements for CUE operating and capital assistance totaling approximately $4,967,570 across five grants, previously appropriated as part of the FY 2027 budget process.
passedApproval of the full consent agenda.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.