Board of Supervisors

Fairfax County has an elected Board of Supervisors consisting of nine members elected by district, plus a chairman elected at-large. The law requires that districts be of approximately equal population and that the supervisors (other than the chairman) be residents and qualified voters of their districts and be elected only by voters living in those districts. All voters in the county may vote for the chairman. The Board elects the vice chairman annually from among its members at its first meeting in January. Board members are elected for four-year terms. There is no legal limit to the number of terms a member can serve. The Board establishes county government policy, passes resolutions and ordinances (within the limits of its authority established by the Virginia General Assembly), approves the budget, sets local tax rates, approves land use plans and makes appointments to various positions. These actions are taken in open meetings, which residents are encouraged to attend. All discussions are held in public, with the exception of issues exempt by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, such as legal or personnel issues. Board meetings are open to the public and conducted according to the Board's Rules of Procedure based on Robert's Rules of Order. The chairman presides at Board meetings and has all the rights and duties of other Board members including one vote, but does not have independent executive authority or a legislative veto. The Board usually meets two Tuesdays per month in the Board Auditorium in the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Residents can view and download Board meeting agendas and summaries of Board actions. The public can also subscribe to "Weekly Agenda", a weekly newsletter that contains links to meeting agendas for the Board of Supervisors, Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission, plus the summary of Board actions.