Fairfax County voters, including Vienna residents, head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide whether to approve $255 million in bond borrowing for parks and health facilities.

The two referendums have drawn less attention than the U.S. Senate and House races sharing the ballot. But the measures would authorize the county to borrow for specific construction and renovation projects across the park system and at two human services campuses.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted June 23 to place both questions before voters, according to FFXnow.

What the parks bond covers

The first question asks voters to authorize up to $180 million in general obligation bonds for the Fairfax County Park Authority. According to county bond documents, the money would fund:

  • $89 million to replace the Audrey Moore RECenter in Annandale, including concept plans for the Franconia and Providence recreation centers
  • $51 million for deferred capital renovations at existing park facilities
  • $19 million to build or fully renovate a park
  • $12 million for land acquisition, historic preservation and cultural resource facilities
  • $9 million for new amenities in existing parks, such as playgrounds, trails or splash pads

The Audrey Moore RECenter replacement is the single largest project. According to OurFairfax, the existing building would be torn down and rebuilt on the same site at Wakefield Park. The new facility is planned with an Olympic-size competition pool, a multi-sport gym, a larger fitness area, a warm-water pool, a childcare center and an expanded senior center.

If the bond passes, OurFairfax reported construction is expected to start in late spring 2028 and finish in 2031. The rec center would be closed during that three-year stretch.

What the human services bond covers

The second question asks voters to authorize up to $75 million for community health and human services facilities. According to the county's plain language statement, the money would go to two projects:

  • $40 million to renovate or replace facilities at the Tim Harmon Campus in Chantilly, which houses A New Beginning, a 35-bed adult rehabilitation program; the Fairfax Detox Center, a 32-bed residential detoxification facility; and a 16-bed adolescent treatment center
  • $35 million to renovate or replace the Joanne Jorgenson Public Health Laboratory, the county Health Department's lab, which performs more than 200,000 tests per year

County staff told the Board of Supervisors in a June memo that the lab is "severely space-constrained, hindering safety layouts, staff training and the capacity to shift testing methods as public-health threats evolve," FFXnow reported.

What a yes or no vote means

A yes vote authorizes the Board of Supervisors to sell bonds for the stated purpose. A no vote blocks the county from issuing bonds for that purpose unless voters approve a future referendum, according to the county's bond FAQ.

Under Virginia law, bond proceeds can only be spent on the purpose written in the ballot question. Parks bond money cannot be shifted to roads or schools.

Tax impact

The county says its bond program "is designed not to contribute to an increase in your property tax rate." The real estate tax rate for fiscal year 2027 is $1.12 per $100 of assessed value.

Fairfax County holds triple-A credit ratings from Moody's, S&P Global and Fitch. Bonds are repaid with level principal over 20 years and sold only as projects need the money, not all at once.

The county's projected net long-term debt for FY 2027 is 0.99% of taxable property value, well below its self-imposed 3% ceiling. Debt service costs are projected at 6.9% of general fund spending, under the 10% limit.

Who votes and how

Registered voters in Fairfax County, including the towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton, vote on both questions. Residents of the independent cities of Fairfax and Falls Church do not.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Mail-in ballots must be returned by 7 p.m., either by mail, in person at the polls, or at the ballot drop box outside the Fairfax County Government Center.