Arlington’s annual operating budget outlines spending on County programs, 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.
Step 1: County Manager Gathers Input
When: Fall/Winter 2020-21
The County Manager gathers input from his leadership team, County employees, the County Board and the Arlington community. This input helps frame and develop the Manager’s Proposed Budget.
Step 2: Proposed Budget Released
When: Feb. 18 and Feb. 20, 2021
The County Manager presented his Proposed FY 2022 Budget to the County Board at a Board work session and at the monthly Board meeting on February.
Read the FY 2022 All-in-One Proposed Budget(PDF, 15MB)
Step 3: County Board Gathers Feedback
When: March–April 2021
The Board will review the budget proposal and conduct a series of virtual work sessions with each County department starting in March. There will be two public hearings—Tuesday, April 6, and Thursday, April 8. The final vote on the FY 2022 operating budget is scheduled for Saturday, April 17. The fiscal year beings July 1. All sessions are cablecast and live-streamed on Arlington TV.
Step 4: Final Adoption by County Board
When: April 2021
Following extensive review and consideration, the County Board adopts the final FY 2022 operating 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.