County Board
About the Board
| The five member County Board is the governing body of Arlington vested with its legislative powers. Members are elected at-large for staggered four year terms. To schedule an appointment with a Board member, please call the County Board Office at 703-228-3130. The Board officers include a Chairman and Vice Chairman elected at the annual January Organizational Meeting. The Chairman is the official head of the County who presides over Board meetings. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman have the same powers and duties as other members of the Board, with a vote but no veto power. The Chairman receives a salary of $53,900; each Board member receives a salary of $49,000 | |
The Arlington County Board (from right): Chair Mary Hughes Hynes, Vice-Chair J. Walter Tejada, Member Christopher Zimmerman and Member Jay Fisette. |
The County Board makes general policy decisions for all County government functions which the Board-appointed County Manager administrates (e.g., public safety, trash collection, parks and recreation, libraries, etc.). It sets real estate, personal property and other tax rates, and establishes the work program for the County by adoption of an annual budget. The Board makes all land use and zoning decisions within the limitations imposed by the Code of Virginia. It oversees transportation policies related to such issues as widening, narrowing and repairing of County streets, sidewalks and bicycle trails.
The Judiciary and the Constitutional Offices, such as Commissioner of the Revenue, Commonwealth's Attorney, Clerk of the Courts, Sheriff, and Treasurer, function independently of the County Board.
The County Board appoints the County Manager, County Attorney, and the Clerk to the County Board. In addition, the County Board appoints citizens advisory groups to assist it in studying issues. Any Arlington County citizen may be considered for appointment to an advisory group by submitting an application to the County Board Office.
Although membership on the Board is considered "part-time," Board members spend many hours preparing for and attending Board meetings held in Suite 307 of #1 Courthouse Plaza; meeting with citizens; responding to mail; researching issues; and representing the County at local functions. Board members also represent Arlington County on regional bodies such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and state-wide and national groups such as the Virginia Association of Counties and National Association of Regional Councils.
