April 25 – May 1, 2019
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • Vol. X XIX No. 10
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week June Primary Absentee Voting Begins Saturday In-person absentee voting begins this Saturday for the June 11 Democratic primary election in Falls Church and the area. See News Briefs, page 9
Uncertainty Lingers Over Sleepy Hollow Project A sidewalk construction project in Sleepy Hollow has seen sweeping revisions but uncertainty still lingers about whether the new infrastructure would address residents’ primary concerns.
$99 Million F.C. Budget Adopted With More $ for Senior Tax Relief Scrambling for Eggs
No Change in Tax Rate Despite Huge New Debt Burden
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
men,” and then added as an aside, “My family is in love with a classical piano player who speaks seven languages,” a clear reference to Buttigieg. Beyer said he was “surprised” by former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s announcement last week that he will not seek the presidential nomination.
By a unanimous 7-0 vote Monday, the Falls Church City Council adopted a $99,291,876 Fiscal Year 2020 budget that will fund the City government and schools from this July 1 through June 2020 with no change in any of the City’s tax rates. Council members hailed the level of cooperation between the City government and the school system to meet the budget’s targets while absorbing the City’s largest ever increase in debt service to fund a new high school and major renovations of City Hall and public library. Nonetheless, there were fireworks at the meeting over an amendment to the draft budget ordinance proposed by Council member Ross Litkenhous and seconded by Councilman David Snyder to remove $63,000 from the budget targeted to provide a small increase in resources for elderly and disabled citizens and veterans who qualify for tax relief. Litkenhous and Snyder opposed adding money to the existing fund, opposing full tax relief instead of a tax deferral option that would eventually hold all seniors and others liable for the full amount of real estate taxes. Snyder, in a letter to the NewsPress following the meeting, said, “The question was: is relief best in the form of deferral or in the form of a complete exemption...There may be liquidity problems and so a deferral is provided but the past due taxes are eventually paid back.”
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Sexual Assault Charge At F.C. Massage Business A man and a woman were arrested last Friday for charges related to sexual assault and operating a massage without a permit at a massage business in the City of Falls Church. See News Briefs, page 9
Mustang Girls Edge Madison County
A Bull Run District rivalry added another chapter in its saga when George Mason High School’s girls soccer team staved off just enough from visiting Madison County High School to eke out a 2-1 victory. See Sports, page 20
THE HUNT WAS ON last Saturday morning when the City of Falls Church hosted its annual Easter egg hunt at Cherry Hill Park. In addition to the tasty treats, there was face painting, a magician and, most importantly, a long-eared special guest. See more photos, pages 16–17. (Photo: J. Michael Whalen)
Rep. Beyer Endorses Buttigieg; First Hinted at F.C. Chamber Talk by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Index
Editorial................ 6 Letters............6, 10 News & Notes.12–13 Comment...... 14–15 Sports................ 20 Business News.. 23
Calendar...... 26–27 Classified Ads.... 28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword......... 29 Crime Report..... 30 Critter Corner..... 30
U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., who represents the 8th District of Virginia that includes the City of Falls Church, officially announced yesterday his support for Democratic presidential hopeful Peter Buttigieg. Beyer first intimated his support for Buttigieg while speak-
ing to the monthly luncheon meeting of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce at Mad Fox Brewing Company last week. The national fundraising chief for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Beyer offered thoughts about the unfolding 2020 presidential race by saying he feels “there should be a woman on the Democratic ticket” as opposed to “old entitled white