FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Some Fairfax County leaders think it's time for the Washington suburb to become a city.
Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin suggested to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the county change its designation to a full-fledged city. Griffin says the county does everything a city does, except maintain roads.
With 1 million residents, a county-turned-city would dominate the neighboring District of Columbia, which has about 600,000 people.
The move would require a referendum and approval from the state legislature. If it goes through, officials could get more authority over taxes and transportation decisions.
Board Chairman Sharon Bulova says calling the county a city "more accurately describes what Fairfax is."
For now, there's already a smaller Fairfax City within the county.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)