Design Your Own County Budget?
Want to see a new dog park in Fairfax County? Or would you prefer your favorite rec center to stay open a little longer? The Fairfax County budget is now in your hands. Temporarily.
The Board of Supervisors is currently in the process of crafting the FY 2014 budget, and they want your help.
“We wanted to put you in the chair of a member of the Board of Supervisors, so we created this budget simulation to let you craft your ideal Fairfax County budget,” said Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock).
Before you is the FY 2014 budget proposed by the county executive. Your job is to amend it as you see fit. Are you satisfied with county services? Are you satisfied with the proposed tax rate? If not, here's your chance to show us what you'd change.
You may find the rules constraining.
“That's because in real life they are as well,” Cook said. “We hope this exercise will help you understand the budget process better, and provide the Board with some ideas on how we should approach this effort in real life.”
Get out your calculator, and go to these links to get started on your budget.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/letter-simulation.pdf,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/advertised/fy2014-reductions.pdf,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2014/advertised/cex-memo-bos-reductions-not-taken.pdf.
—Victoria Ross
MOSAIC Hosts First Shopping Crawl
EDENS, one of the nation’s leading retail real estate developers, hosts the inaugural Mosaic Rendezvous, a shopping crawl to highlight the shopping, dining and film at Mosaic. Mosaic Rendezvous will take place on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to 6 p.m. at 2910 District Ave., Fairfax.
Mosaic’s unique experience is created through hand-selected partnerships, intelligent urban design and a passion for creating authentic community engagement. Mosaic elevates the community experience to a new standard by creating a vibrant, sophisticated environment that connects families and friends together.
Upon arriving at Mosaic Rendezvous, shoppers will pick up a passport in Strawberry Park that will be stamped by participating retailers when shoppers visit. After collecting five stamps, shoppers will qualify for the chance to win the grand prize of a $1,000 Mosaic shopping spree. Other prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon.
Participating retailers and restaurants include: Addison, Ah Love Oil & Vinegar, Amethyst, Angelika Film Center & Café, Anthropologie, Artisan Confections, Bellacara, Cava Mezze Grill, Dawn Price Baby, Dolcezza Gelato, The Townhomes at Mosaic (EYA), Ginger, Langford Market, Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus, Lou Lou, Paper Source, Red Apron Butcher, South Moon Under, sweetgreen and Timothy Paul.
For more information on Mosaic, visit http://www.mosaicdistrict.com, and for more on EDENS, go to www.edens.com.
Helping Keep Children Safe
City of Fairfax police, in conjunction with the Optimist Club of Fairfax, will be offering Safe Assured identification kits for children on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the City of Fairfax Police Department, 3730 Old Lee Highway.
Parents will receive a full-color photo ID and a mini-CD containing digital fingerprints, a digital photo, video showing movement and mannerisms, a general physical description, vital personal information and a family code word. Private information is encrypted and accessible only by law enforcement.
Missing-persons posters can be created and printed directly from the mini-CD in English, Spanish and French. The Safe Assured ID kits can also be used as a valuable aid for adults with special needs. The kits are free and an appointment is necessary. Call Sgt. Kyle Penman at 703-385-7923.