Friends,

The budget has dominated the last 7 weeks of work on the Arlington County Board. We held eleven work sessions and two public hearings before adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on April 9th. The Board also held two hearings on a housing proposal in Green Valley that was a very difficult vote.

I am fully aware that the Federal issues are occupying so much of all our attention. I am working on those issues as well--this report is to update you locally, since County issues impact you, too.

Bottom line up front on the budget: we kept the real estate tax rate flat--no increase--as I indicated to you in February, I very much hoped we would. We did raise the meals tax 1%, a step I see as necessary to align our budget with Arlington's ideals. Overall, the budget is compassionate and fiscally responsible, with investments in housing and homeless response as well as $11.5 million in reserve to address the impacts of the tariffs and numerous other inane and inhumane ideas this Administration is putting forward.
To view this Infographic in a format where you can zoom in, go here:
FY 2026 Adopted Budget Infographic ([link removed])
The budget process is the busiest and perhaps most important time of the year to deliver on the priorities that lead me to serve Arlington. On inclusive economic growth, housing, climate, hunger, and our schools, this budget contains critical items I fought for. Here's the one-page summary of the budget that describes in narrative form much of what the above infographic depicts: FY 2026 Budget responds to Pressing Needs amid Economic Uncertainty – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government ([link removed])

On inclusive economic growth, Arlington Economic Development has funding of $750K to help address critical needs that are appropriate in response to all the cuts that have already been made and the cuts that we face at the Federal level. I worked on a one-time response to the fee for adaptive re-use that can help with office to residential conversions. There are other fees that are going up, both for single-family home developments as well as larger buildings--offices and apartments. As a whole, I see the fee increases as necessary changes--taxpayers should not be subsidizing the fees that developers should cover, particularly when the fees involved are not economic deterrents.
Brooke, Evelyn, and me this past Easter Sunday.
I am perhaps most proud that the budget follows through on a housing priority I have long worked on, but helped deliver on in a significant way this year: homelessness. The budget includes $2.5 million that the County Manager proposed in ongoing funding and an additional $1 million that all colleagues and the Manager agreed to. To be clear, the Manager and colleagues all supported this funding and this money is not the answer to all our homeless challenges. It is, however, a change in the funding levels for the frontline providers that I worked hard on--Bridges to Independence, Path Forward (formerly ASPAN), and Doorways--who needed additional funding to provide the services so critical to serving those most in need in Arlington.

On climate, I worked with advocates to put guidance language that helps focus our Climate Action Fund on transformative change and not the climate-based decision making that should be part of all of our work. To read the language, go here and scroll down to page 5 fy26-budget-guidance.-final.-amended.pdf ([link removed]) For more on the opportunities to make a difference and the work on climate and our environment scroll down to the end of this email for the Earth Day/Week/Month section.

On hunger, we increased funding for AFAC by $280K and provided $150K for food mini grants. Both are consistent with who Arlington tries to be and my values--particularly with demand for food assistance up significantly. For the Food Security 2025 guide and a really helpful email summary, go here: Arlington food security news ([link removed])
On March 18th, I joined the Commission on Aging, Colleague JD Spain, Sr, Pastor Craig Harcum, and County Staff at Macedonia Baptist Church in Green Valley for a Forum on Aging.
On our schools, I worked specifically on budget guidance language that requires $550K to be used for after school programs at schools that have larger percentages of students from low- and moderate-income households. The effort was done in coordination with the South Arlington Hispanic Parents Association, Virginians Organizing for Interfaith Community Action, and the School Board as well as colleagues and the Superintendent. I am proud of this collaborative work. To read the guidance language go here fy26-budget-guidance.-final.-amended.pdf ([link removed]) and scroll to the after-school section.

I also believe this draft APS budget is the best I have seen in years in terms of rigor and fiscal responsibility. I voted for the meals tax, since the revenue from the meals tax helps address APS's needs, along with County's, under our revenue sharing agreement.
Part of our budget process was awarding $1.8 million in funding we made available to nonprofit organizations to strengthen community service for our most vulnerable residents. Arlington Awards $1.8M in Grants to Strengthen Community Service ([link removed]) The grants are part of the RACE to Rebuilding Trust effort we started in 2023 and first funded last year. RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government ([link removed]) I am mindful that we had to turn down many of the requests but believe the investment in equity and opportunity is worthwhile.
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March was women's history month. Watch this 5-minute video about Marty Swaim, an educator, founder of Challenging Racism, and leader who helped Arlington become the place it is today.
The Board also considered a housing proposal in Green Valley on April 5 and April 9th, that was one of the more difficult votes I have taken as a Board Member. The proposal was to replace two run-down hotels and parking lots with 531 units. The property is adjacent to Lomax AME Church, a historic African American church that has been a part of Arlington since before the County was founded.

The issues before the Board were discussed in detail and covered in Arlnow. Green Valley redevelopment plan wins approval despite community opposition | ARLnow.com ([link removed]) The specific issues involved were" affordability of the housing units, traffic safety, density, and a part of Arlington's zoning code that requires community benefits to address the impacts of development. Ultimately, I voted in favor of the project, because I believe in housing supply and because I believe the development will ultimately be a net benefit. I do not believe it is a perfect project and acknowledge that we would want more than 9 affordable units and $2 million in contributions to our affordable housing fund. However, under Virginia law we could not require more for affordable housing. We have to change Virginia law to do that, and we need a new Governor for that.

The Board adopted a motion directing the Manager to work on traffic safety over the coming weeks prior to the May Board meeting. We will have to do better on that issue as it impacts 24th Road South and Glebe. On community benefits, our zoning code does not permit child-care in this case. The Pastor of Lomax asked the developer to write a $2 million contribution to Lomax's child-care program. I do not believe that would have been appropriate as that would be too narrow a version of community benefit. It also would encourage a system of development that does not follow our rules.

I am not immune to requests for reparations and acknowledge we have not done enough to serve Green Valley well enough. I will work to do better as evidenced by the motion and work we adopted to do so. That said, opposing this project when it is the County who must do better would not be right, in my view.

I believe the other requests from the Pastor and speakers except for traffic were adequately addressed. With respect to traffic, testimony established that the current intersection where the hotel is located, is not a great one from a public safety and traffic standpoint. A connector road through the site is not likely to be possible without inverse condemnation. That said, I believe the new development will be safer and that the County must work separately to address the traffic concerns identified in the course of the work on this proposal.

More broadly, some are concerned about gentrification and opposed the project. I respect deeply the views of those in the neighborhood and listened carefully to Lomax parishioner concerns, but do not believe the two run-down hotels lead to displacement of hotel residents as there is no evidence that anyone lives in the hotels permanently. When I drove down to the site at 4 on the Friday before the first hearing, I saw 10 cars between the two hotels and parking lots.

Further, I respect adjacent homeowners concerns but honestly believe that economic growth will be of net benefit to Green Valley and that the proposal as a whole is a net positive. Finally, I was disappointed that some advocates from outside the neighborhood seemed to me to use this as an opportunity to oppose what I see ultimately as a worthwhile change--improving on the current two run down hotels with housing supply and a public open space, among other benefits.

For a one-page summary of the Green Valley vote and Board actions in April, go here: April 2025 Arlington County Board Wrap-up ([link removed])

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Portia Clark has been one of Green Valley and Arlington's Civic leaders for decades. Watch this 4-minute tribute to her leadership and work, which continues to this day.

Job Opportunities and Upcoming Events
Two job related updates: the first is the Project Peace Program Coordinator role which works to end sexual violence. This is a role that is personally important to me, so please forward or apply.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a collaborative and dynamic Project PEACE Program Coordinator to lead a County-wide intimate partner and sexual violence recovery-oriented, trauma-informed human services program. This position will provide leadership and oversight to the Project PEACE (Partnering to End Abuse in the Community for Everyone), Coordinated Community Response and Partner/SHIFT Arlington County’s Certified Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Project PEACE Program Coordinator - Arlington County VA Careers ([link removed])

Second, as so many federal employees are looking for work, I want to make sure to share our website. We have great jobs with Arlington County that I know are of interest in many fields. Go here to search and learn more, or share with a friend. Arlington County VA Careers ([link removed])

Earth Day/Week/Month--simple step you can take & events tonight and Sunday
One item I want to be sure to ask you to help with: if you have not already, go here to download the GetGreen Arlington - GetGreen ([link removed]) app. For Earth Day/weel related events, go here for Eco Action Extravaganza tonight, Thursday the 24th: EcoExtravaganza ([link removed]) For Langston Boulevard's Earth Day Every Day event on Sunday, go here: LBA Earth Day ([link removed]) For a summary of Arlington County's Earth Day work, go here: Earth Day Celebrates 55 Years ([link removed])

Hope
Last but not least, some hope and inspiration from an Arlington woman who was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's and is working with hope and heart to make our world better despite a challenge that would debilitate many of us. Arlington woman with early-onset Parkinson’s receives national advocacy award | ARLnow.com ([link removed])
With a determined heart,

Matt

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