Community Corner

Sale of Falls Church Water on Council Agenda

The City of Falls Church council will discuss an ordinance to authorize the sale of the city's water system on the condition of the passage of a referendum in November and approval of a boundary adjustment.

Before it can sell Falls Church Water to the Fairfax County Water Authority, city council must adopt an ordinance authorizing the transaction.

At Monday night’s meeting, the Falls Church City Council will have a second reading of the ordinance but must await the results of a citizen approval of the sale at a referendum in November. A three-judge panel also needs the approval of the related boundary adjustment.

The meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. at City Hall (you can see the full agenda here).

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Falls Church currently serves some areas of Fairfax County including McLean.

Council set a minimum bid of $44 million to sell the water company in April 2012. If the water system is sold, Falls Church’s boundary with Fairfax County would change and now include George Mason High and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle complex and the Falls Church City Public Schools athletic facilities, which sit just outside city limits.

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The city agreed to sell the water system to the Fairfax County Water Authority for $40 million - $4 million less than the original asking price – in November. Under the agreement, current Falls Church Water employees would keep their jobs for at least three years.

See: Deal to Sell Falls Church Water Reached


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