How Herndon is run
Who runs Herndon, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Herndon's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Herndon
A town manager hired by the town council is the town's chief administrative officer and runs day-to-day operations. The council sets policy, adopts the budget and also appoints the town attorney.
What they are paid
Herndon city staff
283 full-time-equivalent positions, including Public works 78, Police 73, Water and sewer 26, Parks and recreation 25, Town administration 24. FY2026-27 adopted budget. Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
The budget book lists positions and FTEs by department; we found no published pay list by position. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Herndon in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
We found no multi-year general fund forecast in the adopted budget book. The FY2027 general fund budget of $48.9 million draws $2.2 million from fund balance, down from $3.6 million budgeted in FY2026, and includes a 21.7% increase in debt service ahead of a planned bond issue. Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $19.2M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Town policy sets a minimum unassigned general fund balance of 20 percent of general fund operating expenditures. The audit says the June 30, 2025 balance was about 43 percent of general fund expenditures. Town of Herndon · Oct 29, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Other local taxes$19.1M · 39%
- General property tax$15.8M · 32%
- Intergovernmental (state and federal)$5.4M · 11%
- Charges for services$3.4M · 7%
- Use of fund balance and other financing$2.4M · 5%
- Use of money and property$1.4M · 3%
- Other (permits, fines, miscellaneous)$1.4M · 3%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Public works$14.8M · 30%
- Police$13.8M · 28%
- Administration$6.1M · 13%
- Parks and recreation$5.5M · 11%
- Community development$3.2M · 7%
- Finance$2.2M · 5%
- Debt service$1.6M · 3%
- Other (town attorney, clerk, transfers, grants, net of non-departmental credits)$1.7M · 3%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Herndon is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityHerndon Police DepartmentTown of Herndon · Oct 29, 2025
- Fire and EMSThe countyFairfax CountyFairfax County provides fire and ambulance services to town residents.Town of Herndon · Oct 29, 2025
- Police dispatchThe cityHerndon Police DepartmentThe department's Communications and Records Section processes calls for service and dispatches police responses.Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- WaterThe cityTown of Herndon (distribution); Fairfax Water (wholesale supply)The town buys wholesale water and water capacity from Fairfax Water.Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- SewerThe cityTown of Herndon (collection); Fairfax County (treatment)Fairfax County treats the town's wastewater under contract.Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- Trash and recyclingThe cityTown of Herndon Public WorksTown of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- Streets and snow removalThe cityTown of Herndon Public WorksTown of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- Parks and recreationThe cityTown of Herndon Parks and RecreationFairfax County also provides additional parks and recreation services.Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- SchoolsThe countyFairfax County Public SchoolsTown of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
- LibraryThe countyFairfax County Public LibraryThe Herndon Fortnightly Library downtown is a county branch.Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | WaynesboroVA | HerndonVA | SalemVA | FairfaxVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 23,951 | 25,506 | 25,816 | 26,772 |
| Top administrator's base pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $195,000 | Not confirmed |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $12,000 | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $3,231 | $1,919 | $4,616 | $7,766 |
| Debt per resident | $1,923 | $616 | $2,928 | $5,484 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $525 | $15 | $1,573 | $3,062 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 14.9 | 11.1 | 20.0 | 17.3 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Herndon pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Herndon publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted onlineThe FY2027 adopted budget book is posted as a PDF and a digital version, with an interactive budget site. Town of Herndon
- No: City manager's contract findable onlineThe September 2025 resolution appointing the town manager is online, but it states no pay and no contract is attached. Town of Herndon · Sep 23, 2025
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineCouncil minutes on the CivicClerk portal record roll call votes by name. Town of Herndon · Sep 23, 2025
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineLivestream, on-demand video, agendas and minutes from 2019 on are on the CivicClerk portal. Livestreaming pauses October to December 2026. Town of Herndon
- Partly: Council pay stated in a public document Town of Herndon · Apr 26, 2022
- No: Employee pay publishedThe budget book gives staffing by department and a 3.75% pay and benefits rise, but no pay by position. Town of Herndon · Apr 28, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- Unassigned general fund balance was $19.2 million at June 30, 2025, about 43% of general fund spending against a 20% minimum. What level does the council intend to hold, and for what?
- The FY2027 general fund budget draws $2.2 million from fund balance after $3.6 million was budgeted in FY2026. When will recurring revenue cover recurring spending?
- General fund spending exceeded revenue by $1.5 million in FY2025, including $0.8 million in legal fees for the downtown redevelopment project. What further legal costs does the town expect?
- Debt service rises 21.7% in FY2027 ahead of a planned bond issue, on top of $15.7 million in debt at June 30, 2025. How much will yearly debt payments grow?
The fiscal year starts July 1. The FY2027 budget summary went to the council on March 2, 2026 and the full proposed budget on April 1, 2026. Public hearings were held April 14 and April 28, 2026, and the council adopted the budget on April 28, 2026. See who is running for council
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