Arlington’s annual operating budget outlines spending on County services and administration for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The County Manager and County Board are committed to engaging the Arlington community in setting budget priorities.
Latest Budget News
- County Board Provides FY 2020 Budget Guidance (11/27/18)
- Miss the FY 2020 Budget Virtual Town Hall? Watch here. (10/17/18)
- County Manager Warns of Another Tough Budget Year (9/25/18)
How You Can Get Involved
Share Your Feedback Online
Let the County Manager know about your priorities as he develops his FY 2020 Proposed Budget.
Watch the Oct. 17 Virtual Town Hall
County Manager Mark Schwartz briefed the Arlington community on FY 2020 budget pressures and gathered feedback.
INFOGRAPHIC: A Visual Version of Arlington’s FY 2020 Budget Outlook
Understand the pressures on this year’s budget, what options are on the table to close the gap, and how you can provide input.
WATCH: Breaking Down the Budget
County Manager Mark Schwartz explains the annual operating budget, how it gets developed, and how you can weigh in.
Get Updates via “Inside Arlington”
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get the latest about the FY 2020 budget development and how you can get involved.
Budget Timeline & Additional Resources
Step 1: County Manager Gathers Input
When: Fall/Winter 2018/19
The County Manager will gather input from his leadership team, County employees, the County Board and the Arlington community. This input will help frame and develop the Manager’s Proposed Budget, which he will present to the Board in February.
- County Board Budget Guidance for FY 2020 (11/28/18)
- County Manager’s FY 2020 Early Budget Outlook (9/25/18)
- FY 2020 Budget Virtual Town Hall – Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
- Share Your Feedback: Community Suggestions for Addressing Arlington’s FY 2020 Budget Challenges
- FY 2018 Close-out and Implications for FY 2020 Budget
- News Release | Video (coming soon) | Presentation Slides
Step 2: Proposed Budget Released
When: Feb. 2019
The County Manager will present his FY 2020 Proposed Budget to the County Board at a Board work session and again at the monthly Board meeting in February.
Step 3: County Board Gathers Feedback
When: Feb.–Apr. 2019
The County Board will host a series of work sessions with County agencies and hold two public hearings as it considers the Manager’s budget proposal.
Step 4: Final Adoption by County Board
When: Apr. 2019
Following extensive review and consideration, the County Board will adopt the final FY 2020 operating budget.
More About the Budget
Arlington County’s budget follows an annual cycle, with the fiscal year starting July 1 and ending June 30. The fiscal year budget serves as the annual operating plan and is one of the three major strategic documents in the County regarding planning, in conjunction with the County Comprehensive Plan.
During the fiscal year, the Department of Management and Finance reviews the current budget at midyear and for the closeout of the fiscal year. As part of developing an annual budget, the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (FAAC) provides further review of the County Manager’s proposed budget. The County’s budget process is consistent each year, though specific dates may change.