Tell Fairfax City: We need resiliency in the 2027 budget

As we strive to make living in our community more affordable, the City of Fairfax must take action to hire a permanent Climate & Energy Manager. This vital position is a direct investment in affordability. By driving energy projects that are less costly for the city and its residents, a Climate & Energy Manager would significantly lower the City's long-term operational costs. For instance, our LED streetlights save us $150,000 annually. A dedicated manager would build on this, securing savings in utility bills and acquiring high-value grants that currently slip through our fingers due to understaffing.

Without this dedicated staff capacity, our city risks missing funding opportunities and delaying money-saving projects. We simply cannot afford to wait.

Please contact the Mayor and City Council today. Urge them to fund a permanent Climate & Energy Manager to champion smarter government spending, lower municipal utility bills, and a more affordable Fairfax for everyone.

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FY2027 Budget: Please Prioritize a Climate & Clean Energy Manager

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As we seek to make Fairfax City a more affordable place to live, we must prioritize smart municipal investments. I am writing to strongly urge you to fund and hire a permanent full-time Climate & Energy Manager. This position is a direct investment in the City's financial health and long-term affordability. A dedicated Climate & Energy Manager will drive critical energy efficiency and conservation projects that significantly lower municipal operational costs. For example, the City's LED streetlight conversion is already expected to save approximately $150,000 annually. Furthermore, this role helps secure external funding; last year, the Environment and Sustainability Division secured $180,000 in grants, demonstrating the potential for a positive return on staff investment. Crucially, establishing this role provides the necessary dedicated staff time required to adopt and implement the Green Building Policy. Enforcing these enhanced building standards for public and private developments will drive even further energy cost savings. Additionally, upgrading our energy efficiency and building performance will improve our community's resiliency against the strain of regional data center load growth. Without this dedicated staff capacity, our city risks missing out on high-value grant opportunities and delaying already-funded, money-saving projects. We cannot afford to wait. Please champion smarter government spending, lower municipal utility bills, and a more affordable Fairfax by approving the permanent full-time Climate & Energy Manager position.

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