WAMMIE WONDER
Index Editorial..................2 Letters............2, 6, 9 Comment........10-13 Community News & Notes..............14-15 Business News & Notes...................18 Sports.............20-22 Crime Report.......27 Press Pass..........29 Roger Ebert....30-33 Calendar.........34-35
Restaurant Spotlight ............................36 Sodoku................39 Comics.................39 Crossword...........39 Classified Ads......42 Business & Services Directory..............43 Weekly Focus 44-45 Critter Corner.......46 Business Listing..47
Meeting deep into the night last week, the Fairfax County School Board rejected Superintendent Jack Dale’s recommendation that stiff fees be required in the coming fiscal year for participation in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and PSAT tests, and in athletics and
other activity programs. But the fate of these policies is far from decided. The School Board dropped the fees, restored some programs and forwarded a request of $1.65 billion to the Fairfax Board of Supervisors. Here’s the problem: with the regional flatlining of residential real estate values, Fairfax County faces a serious tax revenue shortage as it prepares its next fiscal year budget. County
Board of Supervisors members said last November that would require a flatlining of the School Board budget. The schools “should not expect a penny more,” some were reported to say. But with 1,500 new students having entered the system of 167,000 students this year, and another 1,000 new students
Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner visited the offices of the Falls Church News-Press Monday in an effort to clear up some residual misconceptions and confusion about the large-scale Atlantic Realty City Center project which comes before the City Council for final approval on Feb. 28. The project gained a unanimous preliminary OK from the City Council last month. The $317 million project on 8.9 acres includes a hotel, supermarket, parking deck, rental and age-restricted condo residences, an office building, a relocated bowling alley, extensive streetlevel retail, and road and sidewalk improvements. It offers the prospect of a new, pedestrianfriendly main street, millions in voluntary proffers from the developer and no less than an estimated $3.3 million in net annual tax revenues. While the Council remains steadfast in its support, even while negotiating further improvements with the developer, the nominal citizen opposition has been fueled by misconceptions, Gardner said. Tuesday, the Planning Commission recommended against the final approval of the project while not addressing its revenue promise or the City’s pressing revenue needs. A public hearing before the City Council this Monday will be followed by the Council’s final vote next Thursday. All seven Council members will be present for the vote, which will require a super-majority to pass because it involves the transfer
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