Citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia, will be voting on two county bond referendums on November 7. These referendums, if passed, will authorize the county to ‘borrow’ money from bond purchasers which would have to repaid with interest at a later date. Bonds are traditionally issued to fund large, expensive capital projects.
Parks and Park Facilities Bonds
This referendum would allow Fairfax County to issue up to 25 million dollars in bonds to fund the creation of new parks and park facilities and to maintain and improve existing parks. This 25 million dollars would be in addition to previously issued bonds (including 65 million dollars from the bond referendum passed two years ago) and add to the 76 million dollars already budgeted by Fairfax County for parks, recreation, and libraries in 2007.
In my endorsement against the Parks and Park Facilities Bonds in 2004, I explained the sheer size of the Fairfax County park system—a system which has since grown to include 23,677 acres of land and 400 individual parks. We are hardly in need of an expansion, and money for maintaining and improving existing parks should come from the county’s general fund and existing park fees. I firmly endorse a NO vote on the Parks and Park Facilities Bonds referendum.
- Referendum Text and Explanation (Fairfax County Electoral Board [no longer available]).
Public Safety Facilities Bonds
This referendum would allow Fairfax county to issue up to 125 million dollars in bonds to fund improvements to the county’s public safety infrastructure. This can include building and/or improving facilities for detention, animal control, civil and criminal justice, police, and fire departments, but most slated improvements will affect police and fire facilities.
As the population of Fairfax County grows—and especially as parts of the county become more urbanized and violent crimes become more commonplace—it is important that the respective public safety departments and their facilities grow and change as well. This is an important investment in the future safety of the citizens of Fairfax County, so I endorse a YES vote on the Public Safety Facilities Bonds referendum.
- Referendum Text and Explanation (Fairfax County Electoral Board [no longer available]).