BDC’s 2024-2025 operating year got off to a strong start at the Annual Meeting in September. Braddock Hall was full as Supervisor Walkinshaw kicked things off with a town-hall presentation that touched a number of key issues in Braddock District and Fairfax County, including the Braddock Road Improvement Project, Lake Accotink, new County data center zoning requirements, revenue diversification for the FY26 budget, casino and “skill games” proposals, and a proposed pilot program for lowering speeds in residential neighborhoods.
In the business portion of the meeting, Treasurer Barbara Smith presented the proposed 2024-2025 budget, which was affirmed by the members present. Barbara also briefed the members on her effort to reinstate the BDC’s tax-exempt status with the IRS. You are encouraged to check your financial records to ensure that your association has a current tax-exemption letter (which will include an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS). There is an annual requirement for small organizations to submit a form (IRS 990/990-n, the “e-postcard”). More information can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/annual-electronic-notice-form-990-n-for-small-organizations-faqs-how-to-file
Since Barbara has gone through the process, if you have any questions, please contact her at bdcfxtreasurer@gmail.com.
Speaking of reporting requirements, I discussed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This Federal law requires corporations registered with the State Corporation Commission to file a report of Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by the end of 2024. While there are lawsuits pending that seek to enjoin the reporting requirement for non-profit 501(c)(4) entities like community associations (and the BDC itself), as of this writing, the requirement still stands. Members are encouraged to contact their law firm for guidance on the CTA reporting requirement. While HOA management companies will charge for filing the report, associations can do it themselves online for free by going to https://www.fincen.gov/boi. One BDC member association has already done so and reports that collecting the information needed to complete the form and filing the report took about an hour.
In terms of upcoming BDC events, Paul Hartwell, Aging in Place coordinator, announced the first in a new series called “Braddock Storytellers.” He will present “Off the Beaten Track : A Magnificent Cathedral, a real "Downton Abbey" and a pre-Roman Antiquity in the Heart of England” on 8 October at 2 p.m. in the Kings Park Library meeting room and via Zoom (click here to register and obtain zoom link).
The next regular BDC meeting will be held on 20 November at 7 p.m. in Braddock Hall. The main topic will be a review of proposed changes to our Bylaws. Please check the BDC website to look at the draft changes and be ready to help us get to a final version in November.
Supervisor Walkinshaw has put out the call for nominations for the annual Best of Braddock Awards. Please consider submitting nominations for any or all of the six categories. Here is the link to the easy online nomination form (Thanks to our webmaster, Charlotte Hannagan, for helping refine this form.):
Nominations close on 31 October. If you have any questions about the Best of Braddock Awards program, please contact the supervisor’s office at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov or call the main office number. The Best of Braddock Awards ceremony will be on Wednesday, 4 December in the King’s Park Library meeting room at 7 p.m.
In closing, I’d like to thank all the associations that paid their 2024-2025 dues promptly when invoiced. We stand at 34 members as of this writing. We would like to reach 40 members this year, so if your association hasn’t paid yet, please go to the BDC website and complete the membership form or contact Treasurer Barbara Smith at bdcfxtreasurer@gmail.com with any questions.
I look forward to seeing all of you in November.
Bob Cosgriff
Chair
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