Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee met on February 10, 2026, to discuss the FY 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program, economic development updates, federal impacts, and several action items, including the 2025 Capital Intensity Factors. The committee approved a consent agenda, an EDAC ad hoc committee, and recommended the Capital Intensity Factors for a public hearing.

Consent Calendar

• Approved items on consent included: Item 4 (Shenandoah Building Renovation), Item 5 (General Government Office Building Solar Analysis), Item 6 (Award Authority Increase for IT Products & Software Services), Item 7 (Award Authority Increase for Traffic Calming Contracts), Item 8 (Contract Award for IT Hardware/Software and Maintenance Support), Item 9 (Contract Award and FY 2026 CIP Amendment for Route 7/Route 690 Interchange), Item 11 (Proposed Changes to HR Policy Handbook Chapters 1 and 9), Item 13 (2025 Family Services Advisory Board Annual Report and Bylaws Revision), Item 14 (Revised Community Criminal Justice Board Bylaws), Item 15 (Loudoun County Community Services Board Bylaws Revision), Item 16 (Community Development Block Grant Funding Recommendations), Item 17 (Attainable Housing Loan Program for Clear Springs Apartments Phase 1 and 2), Item 18 (Attainable Housing Loan Program for Dogwood Farm Station Apartments), and Item 19 (Attainable Housing Loan Program for Dulles Plaza). Chair Briskman noted the Dogwood Farm Station loan of $7 million for 72 affordable units (8 at 30% AMI, 28 at 50% AMI, 36 at 60% AMI) affordable for at least 75 years. Chair Randall encouraged members to review committee reports on consent. Chair Briskman clarified that the solar analysis in Item 5 is specific to the new general government office building, separate from an ongoing analysis by the Department of General Services for other county properties.

Discussion Items

• FY 2027-2032 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Presentation (Item 1): Staff presented the $4.3 billion proposed CIP, with 31% for county projects, 41% for transportation, and 28% for schools. County projects total $1.3 billion, transportation $1.8 billion, and schools $1.2 billion. New school facilities are deferred due to declining enrollment projections. Funding for sidewalk and trail programs was adjusted for bundling; bus shelter production accelerated to 40 per year. Debt issuance capacity is maintained each year, with increased use of local tax funding reducing debt reliance. Staff outlined next steps: board members can sign up for meetings February 11-13; written questions due February 17; work sessions on February 24 and March 4. Discussion included library space strategy—Ashburn Library is undersized and planning dollars are allocated to explore expansion or relocation—and clarification that the Western Loudoun Recreation Complex (96,000 sq ft) is separate from a future library. Chair Briskman noted the CIP will be posted online after the presentation.
• Monthly Department of Economic Development Report (Item 2): Director Buddy Rizer reported 80 wins, 5,444 jobs, and $158 million in commercial investment through January 2026. The November unemployment rate was 3.6% for Loudoun vs. 4.6% nationally. Job creation in Loudoun outpaces the national average by 8.2%. The business retention and expansion program (BRE) has conducted 3,373 activities since 2020, resulting in 259 wins, $223 million in capital investment, 11,017 jobs created/retained, and 3.36 million square feet of commercial space filled or retained. Discussion covered commercial vacancy rates (flex industrial ticking up due to older obsolescent product), Dulles airport passenger numbers (slight dip, potentially due to hesitancy in international travel), and challenges for small businesses displaced by redevelopment. Business Retention Manager Chris Hunter highlighted the program's proactive relocation assistance and the importance of transit-oriented development for future office demand.
• Impact of Ongoing Federal Actions on Loudoun County Update (Item 3): County staff and lobbyists from Becker provided an update. The FY 2026 appropriations bills reversed many cuts from HR 1, restoring and even increasing funding for programs at HHS, Education, and others. Bipartisan progress was noted, though DHS remains in a continuing resolution. The Road to Housing Act and Housing for the 21st Century Act, passed with strong bipartisan support, aim to increase housing supply. Discussion included potential impacts on Loudoun: four federal grants were identified as high risk (none rescinded yet); the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant ($3.05 million) is being redirected by the federal granting agency, but the board had already planned for conversion to local tax funding. Supervisor Umstead raised questions about federal appetite for additional Metro funding and the per diem reimbursement for federal property. Chair Briskman expressed concern about layoffs of federal employees affecting program restoration and highlighted the loss of the UASI grant.
• Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) Ad Hoc Committee Request (Item 12): EDAC Chair Tim Shimbara requested creation of an ad hoc committee to examine the future economic outlook of Loudoun County, focusing on identifying opportunities, barriers, and considerations for a resilient commercial tax base. The deliverable is research-focused, not policy recommendations. Supervisor Leturner requested specific analysis on flex space types and market demand. Chair Briskman noted the need to be respectful of staff time. The committee approved the ad hoc committee 5-0.
• 2025 Capital Intensity Factors (CIF) (Item 10): Staff presented the proposed 2025 CIF, recommending removal of school costs from the standard and urban multifamily CIF due to declining enrollment projections from LCPS (no new schools needed for at least 10 years). The fiscal impact committee (FIC) had previously reduced school costs by 10%, but staff recommended full removal based on updated data. The resulting CIF decreases significantly for most unit types (e.g., standard single-family detached in Eastern region drops from $86,691 in 2023 to $41,530 in 2025). County costs increased due to rising construction costs and household sizes. The age-restricted CIF (no school costs) increased slightly. The road CIF increased modestly. Staff recommended the CIF take effect upon board approval and apply only to applications accepted after that date. The committee discussed implications: Supervisor Umstead questioned whether the county collects proffers for growth in towns (staff indicated no agreement exists). Supervisor Leturner raised legal concerns about collecting proffers for renovations rather than new schools. Chair Briskman noted pending state legislation (SB 717) that would mandate transit-oriented development without local proffer authority, potentially increasing need for schools. She requested delaying the public hearing until state legislation is settled. The committee voted 5-0 to recommend the Board of Supervisors advertise the CIF for a public hearing, with no date set, pending further developments.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved unanimously (5-0).
• EDAC Ad Hoc Committee Approved unanimously (5-0) to examine future economic outlook, including specific analysis on flex space types.
• 2025 Capital Intensity Factors recommended for public hearing (5-0), with staff recommendation to remove school costs. Public hearing date to be determined, pending outcome of state legislation.
• FY 2027-2032 CIP Presentation received; next steps include February 11-13 sign-up for staff meetings, written questions due February 17, and work sessions on February 24 and March 4.
• Federal Actions Update noted ongoing impacts: four high-risk grants under review, UASI grant redirected, and appropriations bills restoring many cuts. Staff and lobbyists will continue monitoring.