FY 2025 Budget Questions and Answers

Page updated on December 26, 2024 at 9:43 AM
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Budget Questions and Answers (Q&A) for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget process are listed and searchable below by subject. Use the question titles (some abbreviated to fit the character allotment) to view the question and response. A PDF version is also available at the bottom of each Q&A.

To view Budget Q&As from previous years, visit the Budget Archive. 

Budget QA
Date Status Name
FY 25 Budget Q&A #001: What is the proposed schedule and add/delete process for FY 2025 budget deliberations?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #002: What is the current funding for the annual arts grants program, how long has it been at this level, and how much additional funding would be needed to at least get to a level that accounts for inflation?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #003: Can we get a budget memo on the concerns raised by the Alexandria Community Services Board January 10, 2024 health professionals compensation letter to City Council?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #004: What is the fiscal impact of the City doing something similar to what Arlington just implemented to provide free Metrobus rides to high school students?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #005: Can the City provide a stipend to young Alexandrians who participate on our Boards and Commissions, as they are often facing travel costs or not participating in work or other out of school programs in order to serve the City?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #006: What would it cost to offer a shuttle service on a fixed schedule one day a week for residents who need to visit the Del Pepper building but who cannot navigate the walk from the Mark Center bus stop to the building?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #007: What amount of revenue would be created by raising the hotel occupancy tax rate by 1%? Were any revenue enhancements other than a property tax rate increase (fee increases, etc) considered by Staff?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #008: How does Alexandria's property tax relief program for seniors with limited resources compare to those of neighboring jurisdictions? What would it cost to increase the asset limit by 10%? 25%? 50%?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #009: What budget reductions were considered by Staff as this budget was being developed that were not included in the Manager's proposed budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #010: How many vacant mental health positions do we have in the City? How many mental health professionals have left the City's employ in the last two years? What is the average time a mental health position is posted before it is filled?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #011: Are there taxes or fees charged by our comparator jurisdictions on short term rental units (Air BnBs, etc) that we do not levy in Alexandria?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #012: The CIP budget includes $471 million in FY 2025 of a $2.33 billion 10 year CIP budget, or roughly 20% of our 10 year budget is being spent in Year One. How does that percentage compare to recent years?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #013: In the Proposed CIP, the Tree & Shrub Maintenance project has no funding planned for FY 2025. Please explain this change in funding from the previously approved CIP.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #014: What is the average real estate tax bill increase for FY25 based on real estate assessments? What is the anticipated revenue generated by a penny increase on the FY 25 tax rate?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #015: At current tax relief program levels, what is the projected amount not collected currently each year (tax relief granted) and what would that figure be at the increased levels under consideration?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #016: What are the salary increases (by percentages if available or in the easiest metric to express) proposed in FY25 for the following? Librarians, Fire, Police, Sheriff, General services, and non-bargaining unit city employees
FY 25 Budget Q&A #017: What tax rate increase would be required to fully fund the School board adopted operating budget and CIP?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #018: What is the employment vacancy rate in FY23 for the City of Alexandria and as compared to prior years?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #019: What is the cost if the retroactive application of the current promotional rule was applied to all eligible employees?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #020: Can you provide a refresher on the ARISE current pilot? How much money would it take to bridge the current recipients of the ARISE program from it’s expiration in February 2025 to the end of FY25?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #021: Can you provide an overview of the AEDP current and proposed budget and context for any growth or expansion proposed in the budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #022: What is the status and cost of the Clerk of the Court's position reclassification request?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #023: What would it cost to increase the frequency of DASH Bus 103 to 20 minute headways between 6:45am and 8:30am and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays? How does this route measure in terms of utilization and equity scores?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #024: The City uses gas-powered leaf blowers sometimes during the year to maintain the landscaping. What electric alternatives exist, and what would it cost to replace the gas-powered devices?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #025: What central office reductions were proposed in the ACPS Budget? The School Law Enforcement Partnership Recommendations asked ACPS to explore alternative education options. Are there funds in the proposed budget to study this?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #026: The state budget approach to the At-Risk Add On reduces funding for ACPS in that category overall. What is the fiscal impact of that change to ACPS?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #027: When was the last time the City used General Obligation Bonds to finance affordable housing? What would be the size of the bond issuance needed to fully fund Parcview II and Community Lodgings?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #028: Have the results of the Local Voucher Program Study been finalized? If so, what is the cost to fund such a program? How much money would the voucher program cost us to implement for at least 250 households? 500?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #029: How much did the City distribute in rental assistance in FY 24? What is the scale of resources needed to assist every individual and/or family that applied for rental assistance in FY 24?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #030: What tools do we have to add funding to development projects that target renters making less than 50 thousand dollars? What is the cost to the City to buy down the cost of units to better support renters at this AMI level?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #031: Currently, only 1% of the meals tax goes to affordable housing. How much additional revenue for affordable housing could be generated by increasing the portion of the meals tax that is dedicated to affordable housing by .5%? 1%?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #032: I understand that the HUD Family Self Sufficiency Program can help move families from public housing to homeownership. How many ARHA residents currently participate in this program? Is it solely funded by federal dollars?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #033: What is the cost to restore the proposed 50% reduction to DASH Route 104? What would it cost to fund DASH’s supplemental requests?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #034: What is the cost to restore the community outreach program for Senior Services of Alexandria?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #035: What is the cost to make the RPCA Mental Health Pilots permanent?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #036: The state budget proposes an increase in VPI by 19%. This requires a 50% match by the locality. What is the projected cost of the match to the City? Have those funds been factored into the current budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #037: How many Clean Teams are proposed in the FY 25 budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #038: What is the cost to continue the guaranteed basic income program beyond 2025? What is the cost to expand the program by 50 families and 100 families?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #039: Does the City have the authority to change the recordation tax?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #040: How did ACPS fund the local portion of the 2% increase in teacher pay from the state in FY24 and how do they anticipate funding in FY25?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #041: What impact would the reduced City funding have on NVJDC operations? How much of NVJDC's utilization is due to lack of capacity in alternative programs?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #042: How does Sheltercare plan to address its staffing needs? What are the details of Sheltercare's non-personnel budget increase?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #043: What are options for a Alexandria City High School Fire cadet program?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #044: What technological options are there for automatic traffic violation tracking?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #045: What is the Sheriff's Office's current vacancy rate? What was it last year? What positions are currently vacant, when are they planned to be filled, and how would a new position be used?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #046: What are the results of the ACORP pilot program so far in terms of the data?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #047: How many participants remain in the old public safety pension plan and what would it cost to close it out?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #048: What is the full scope of youth opioid prevention and treatment programs in the City including ACPS?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #049: Why was there a significant reduction in the number of civil, criminal, and traffic case transactions in FY 2023?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #050: What is the financial impact of the adopted state budget on the City and schools?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #051: What past ALIVE funds has the city provided and any ARPA or other grant funding that the city has initiated and provided ALIVE in the last 10 years?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #052: Please provide a breakdown of the share to state aid to fund a library outreach position and what would be the cost to the City. Please include costs for the vehicle, information on state funding, and cost sharing.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #053: The Budget Question #17 estimate of the tax-rate impact of the ACPS CIP add assumed that the entire addition was funded by debt. Can you show a few scenarios where we financed the add with a cash capital and debt mix?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #054: Can you please provide a detailing of the number of children served across the Early Childhood Program Area?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #055: Can you provide the fiscal and operational impact of delaying the hiring (Until FY 26) of either the Investigative and Policy Analyst or the Mgmt Analyst II proposed for the budget for the Office of the Independent Policing Auditor?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #056: Can you provide a recent staffing history for the Department of Emergency Communications, including details on authorized, filled, vacant and over-hire positions for the past 5 years, as available?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #057: Can you provide updated comparator information for the Sheriff’s Department employee pay? Can you provide the fiscal impact of various alternatives to address detention center vacancies?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #058: Can you provide the expected impacts if the one-time increase in advertising proposed for Visit Alexandria was expanded beyond $200,000 to $400,000 or $600,000?What additional revenue benefits could be realized by such an expansion?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #059: If additional cash capital resources were provided in FY 2025, how much of the FY 2026 Street Reconstruction and Sidewalk Capital Maintenance schedule could be funded and implemented within FY 2025?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #060: What would the cost to the CIP budget be for the project to ensure that the pump stations to be built as part of waterfront flood mitigation will include publicly accessible bathrooms in the initial design and implementatation?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #061: What is the cost to expand drug treatment resources for youth as proposed by the NVJDC?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #062: Can the City Manager provide a recommendation for the use of additional revenue beyond the 1.0 cent recommendation he presented with the proposed budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #063: What are the possible tax revenue options to support the FY 2025 budget?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #064: Please provide a summary of City and ACPS employee compensation adjustments since FY 2021.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #065: Please provide details on how clients are accessing the Del Pepper Center.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #066: Please provide more information about the cybersecurity postures and needs of our partner organizations (AEDP, Visit Alex, DASH).
FY 25 Budget Q&A #067: What would be the approximate cost to hold an economic development summit with a level of outreach equivalent to Zoning for Housing?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #068: Please provide a list of items in the FY 2025 budget that were formerly funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
FY 25 Budget Q&A #069: Please provide a list of items in the FY 2025 ACPS budget that were formerly funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #070: Can we get a list of City-sponsored events and how much City funding is dedicated to those events? What would the final product look like for special events investment?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #071: How much additional revenue would be generated if the vacant OSTP positions were filled?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #072: What is the amount of investment in Minnie Howard Aquatics Center?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #073: What are the specific creative revenue generating recommendations provided by Parks & Recreation Commission?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #074: Can we quantify the revenue received from special events?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #075: What is staff’s assessment of the viability of an e-bike voucher program for Alexandria residents, focusing on equitable qualification parameters? What are the costs associated with the creation, administration and implementation?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #076: Can you review the current fee structure for parking permits on City streets and what revenue those permits generate? How does that fee structure compare with neighboring jurisdictions?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #077: What would be the costs associated in FY 2025 with meeting the pay scale adjustment needs outlined by the Sheriff's Association in question #59 from the FY 2024 budget process?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #078: Please provide a summary of Revenue Re-Estimates and Technical Adjustments for Add/Delete and recommendations for use of additional revenues.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #079: How do Alexandria's BPOL tax rates compare to our comparator jurisdictions?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #080: Can staff please respond to the attached message from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #081: Can you provide any insight into why the state maximum is higher for BPOL on Financial Services and why we have not raised that rate to reflect that allowance? How many businesses do we have registered in the category in Alexandria?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #082: What would be the financial impact of increasing the vehicle personal property tax relief assessed value limit from the current $20,000 to $30,000 or the state cap of $52,000?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #083: Can I get a budget memo addressing the following questions regarding DASH operations? 
FY 25 Budget Q&A #084: Please provide a memo addressing the continued Metro Stage funding concerns for their auditorium build-out.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #085: What is the cost to continue the part-time person that was in the Council Clerk's office?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #086: How many vacant social worker positions do we have in the City? How many social worker positions have left the City’s employ in the last two years? What is the average time a social worker position is posted before it is filled?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #087: Please provide a summary of Add/Delete proposals received from City Council.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #088: What is the cost of an expanded internship program at DCHS?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #089: Please provide some additional options for increasing participation in the Real Estate Tax Relief program for the Elderly & Disabled beyond that provided in budget memo #8.
FY 25 Budget Q&A #090: What is an estimated cost associated in the City Clerk’s Office with fulfilling the state requirements for microfilming records, other records management upkeep, and providing avenues for public access to records?
FY 25 Budget Q&A #091: Please provide a summary of the City Council’s final decisions for budget adoption.