Chairman Corey Stewart says and says money to lower class sizes and increase teacher pay has to come from somewhere.
He and the Prince William County Board of Supervisors is now wrangling over a proposed $975 million budget that doesnāt leave much room for the hiring of new police officers and fire and rescue personnel, or bringing on new employees into government that saw positions go unfilled or slashed since the start of the recession in 2008.
Because county officials are committed to capping the increase of the growth of the average tax bill at 2.5% per year between now and 2019, and because of unexpected growth and revenue in the housing market over the past year, the tax rate will have to be reduced 5.5 cents to $1.126 per every $100 of assessed residential and commercial property value to keep pace with the 2.5% tax bill growth cap.
Prince William County Public Schools are expected to lose $8.7 million in the coming budget because of the lower tax rate. Those funds, along with the remainder of school funding from the Prince William County Government, would have been automatically transferred to the School Board under a 57.23% revenue sharing agreement.
The School Board earlier this month, by a motion set forth by Potomac District School Board member Betty Covington, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Board of Supervisors to find a way to fund the $8.7 million shortfall.
Stewart is in full support of continuing the automatic revenue sharing agreement, something that is unique to Prince William and Albermale counties in Virginia.
āI talk to many other localities a lot more than any other person on the Board and I can say the rev sharing agreement is the greatest thingā¦ you take the bickering out of the split,ā said Stewart.
School officials met with the Board of County Supervisors several times during the previous year and each time stressed that lowering class sizes (Prince William currently has the largest student to teacher ratio in the Washington, D.C. area) and increasing teacher pay are top priorities.
Now, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday must vote on whether to move forward on a reduced tax rate of $1.126 to keep the promise of an average tax bill growth of 2.5%, which would increase the average tax bill about $85 per year to just under $3,500.
Stewart says heāll be speaking to residents about how they feel about the proposed tax rate in an effort to make sure schools, as well as departments in county government are funded at critical levels.
āWhen I leave this place I want people to look back and say āthe community had this challengeā¦ and it had that challenge,ā and that they say I met them and I got the job done,ā said Stewart.
The Board of County Supervisors is also scheduled to hear from School Board Chairman Milton C. Johns on Tuesday night to learn more about the School Divisionās annual budget for FY2015.
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FREE Leadership Sessions will be conducted at the George Mason University āArlington Campus for High School Latinas. The program runs from Monday 7/15 through Friday 7/19 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM EST each day (1-week).
Las sesiones de liderazgo GRATUITAS se llevarĆ”n a cabo en el campus de George Mason University – Arlington para latinas de secundaria. El programa se desarrollarĆ” desde el lunes 15 de julio hasta el viernes 19 de julio, de 10:00 a.m. a 3:00 p.m. EST cada dĆa (1 semana).
Our goal is to equip students with the fundamentals of self-promotion and guide them in shaping their personal brand for future success. What sets this program apart is its integration of self-awareness activities and mentorship by seasoned professionals.
Sessions begin with a thorough assessment of leadership dynamics on July 15th, participants delve into the intricacies of personal branding and etiquette on July 16th, followed by practical guidance on crafting compelling LinkedIn profiles and resumes on July 17th. July 18th emphasizes the art of storytelling through personal statements, while July 19th culminates in portfolio presentations, allowing participants to showcase their newfound skills. The program concludes on July 20th with a memorable graduation ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of the ELITE Academy’s graduates and their journey towards leadership excellence.
We are honored to have the Honorable Andrea O. Bailey of the Potomac District, along with the esteemed leadership of Prince William County, hosting our 4th Annual 5K Walk for Mental Health Awareness. This event is a testament to their commitment to educate, advocate for, and dispel myths and stigma surrounding mental illness.
Dust off your running or walking shoes, bring your pets, and move with us in this county-wide FREE event in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month on Saturday, May 18th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This yearās theme is Movement: Moving for Your Mental Health.
We will walk along a scenic multi-purpose trail in a wooded setting with sufficient signage to meet the needs of the walkers at Locust Shade Park, 4701 Locust Shade Drive, Triangle, Virginia 22192.
