Virginia county board members give themselves massive raise amid inflation, tax hikes, cop shortage

One of the two supervisors who voted against the salary hikes noted that “residents are struggling with high inflation, high gas prices” and a 50% increase in homeowner taxes over the last decade in addition to a “staffing crisis in public safety.”

The majority of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors formally voted to give members of the board salary increases of up to 38%, while residents of the county, located just outside of Washington, D.C., grapple with rising real estate and vehicle personal property tax assessments, resulting in higher tax bills.

The county is also dealing with a shortage of about 200 police officers in the midst of a crime surge. According to WJLA, a Washington, D.C. area local ABC station, there has been an increase of major crime incidents throughout the county.

Despite these issues, the Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 to approve a 30% salary hike for board members from $90,000 per year to $123,283. The board’s chairman, Jeff McKay, a Democrat, is currently paid $100,000 yearly and his new salary will jump by 38% to $138,283.

The board had voted 8-2 at a meeting on March 7 to consider even higher salary increases of up to $130,000 for board members and up to $145,000 for the chairman.

Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity, a Republican who voted against the salary increases on March 7 and on Tuesday, noted that the board approved the proposal despite a great deal of public testimony against it at the meeting on Tuesday.

More