Local ABC7 News Affiliate WJLA reporter Nick Minock did some actual investigative journalism yesterday and revealed some pretty stunning facts about the state of our neighbor to the south, Fairfax County, Virginia, and their own local politician’s perks and taxpayer pillaging.
Let’s see how Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors stack up to Montgomery County’s Councilmembers in terms of taxpayer provided benefits, perks and more. Which is taking taxpayers for more of a ride?
Part-time vs full-time? According to Minock’s solid reporting “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Chair also get retirement and healthcare benefits for their part-time government gigs.” But, while technically classed part-time, Fairfax County Board of Supes do claim to spend 40 hours or more per week on the job. They tried to get the part-time position re-classed back in the 1990s but it is up to the VA General Assembly to do so, formally. So, we’ll call it a wash as far as taxpayer bang for the buck on politician labor. Frankly, less time spent in Rockville in “actual session” by the Montgomery County Council would be a very good thing.
Salaries? According to ABC7: Under the current proposal, the part-time Fairfax County Supervisors would make up to $130,000 per year, up from their $95,000 salary. Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Chairman would make up to $145,000 for his part-time position. That would be a 45% raise for the chairman while full-time county employees are set to get a 2% raise. The County Chairman in Fairfax is similar to the Council president in Montgomery, but has less clout and power then say, the office of Montgomery County Executive.
The Fairfax Supes last raised their own pay in March 2015 by $20,000 a year (and bumped the County Chair to $100K).
Montgomery County is even more generous. It pays the Council president (currently Evan Glass) a salary of $171,912.46 per year. The other members receive a salary of $156,284.05. The County Council “voted” on the generous pay increases for a “future” council back in the 2013. Many, if not all, of the Council at that time anticipated getting re-elected.
Fairfax, even with its pathetic attempt at pay raises this time around, is still pillaging its taxpayer less then the Montgomery County Council. Fairfax Supervisors are only 10 members, too — MoCo expanded to 11 Councilmembers just this year.
Term Limits? Well, MoCo thankfully has them. Angered by the aforementioned pay raise and general arrogance of lifers on the County Council, MoCo voters passed term limits into the County Charter by 40 points back in November, 2016. Fairfax County, unfortunately, does not. Somebody named Penny Gross (Democrat) has been on the Board of Supes an astounding 28 years.
Fairfax – you need to follow MoCo’s lead on term limits. They are a good thing, promise.
County Take-Home Vehicles and Taxpayer Gasoline Fill-Ups? Looks like Fairfax County Supervisors, specifically the Board Chairman McKay, are living high on the hog here compared to MoCo:
In a public records request, 7News learned McKay [Democrat, At-Large] filled up his car [actually a county owned Ford hybrid model] 40 times –– about every other week on the county’s dime — during a time when gas prices spiked, and his constituents were paying more than $4 a gallon.
The county paid $998.43 for McKay’s gas between January 2022 and March 4, 2023, which was three days before McKay voted for a $45,000 pay increase for himself.
We are unaware of any MoCo Councilmembers getting this level of taxpayer perk, at least at this time. County Executive Elrich gets transported around town in a County-owned SUV. But again, this is a different position in government and arguably does have more responsibility.
Stunningly, there might be a local politician (Democrat Jeff McKay of Fairfax, VA) who is even more tone-deaf to his constituents and more brazen in his taxpayer pillaging for personal gain and use then Montgomery County Councilmembers. MoCo Councilmember Will Jawando’s open brag about getting his law school loans paid off by taxpayers this past fall was pretty darn spectacular as well, but he is targeting Federal taxpayers, not just MoCo families, for his gain.
Final score: 2-1-1. Fairfax, VA has MoCo beat in terms of outright grifting the taxpayers. For now.
