Proponents of incorporating Reston as the fourth town in Fairfax County said Tuesday they had gathered 3,600 signatures on a petition calling for a vote on the issue, more than doubling the number of names collected in August.
The signatures, collected by the Reston Citizens Association, put new pressure on the community’s state lawmakers to support putting the question on the ballot next year.
If successful, the measure would form a local town council and government that would take over some duties and powers from Fairfax County, including control over land decisions. The General Assembly would need to approve such a referendum.
While far from accounting for the more than 60,000 residents in Reston, the petition’s recent success suggests the issue is picking up steam.
“Thousands of signatures was certainly what we wanted, and we certainly got that,” said Reston Citizens Association President Mike Corrigan.
The proposal faces serious legal roadblocks even if the issue makes it onto the ballot. State law prevents the creation of any new municipalities within counties that fall under the “urban county” form of government, which includes Fairfax.
Skeptics also have pointed to what they say would be a jump in the property tax rate caused by adding a new layer of services.
Fairfax County now has three towns: Clifton, Vienna and Herndon. The county also abuts two independent cities for which services often overlap: Fairfax City and Falls Church.
Herndon Town Councilman Dennis Husch said town status allows for greater transparency in the decision-making process, as well as comprehensive land-use planning and added services like snow plowing and garbage hauling.
Herndon residents pay an added 23 cents per $100 value in real estate tax on top of the county’s existing rate.
Husch said he supports putting the incorporation of Reston on the ballot.
“Self determination is certainly part of the fabric of this county, and if the community wants to become a town, I think the legislature should support that,” he said.
