Structure
Fairfax
County is governed under the Urban County Executive form of government,
one of several forms of county government authorized in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The powers of government are vested in 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 each Supervisor (other than the Chairman) be a resident and qualified voter of his or her district, and be elected only by voters living in that district. 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 next Board election will take place in November 2007, with Board members taking office in January 2008.
Responsibilities of the Board
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 tax rates, approves land use plans, and makes appointments. These actions are taken in open meetings which citizens are encouraged to attend. All decisions are made in public, but the Board may go into Closed Meeting to discuss issues exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), such as legal or personnel-related issues.
The Board appoints the County Executive, who is the administrative head of the County government and is responsible for the administration of all of the affairs of the County which the Board has authority to control.
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