MANASSAS — The city council and school board have reached a temporary funding agreement for the fiscal year of 2020 that includes a 3 percent increase to Manassas City Public Schools.
The budget was decided at an annual city council retreat.
“Three percent may not seem like much, but it is 50 percent more than the increase expected for all of our other government functions,” wrote City Councilman Wolfe in a Facebook post. “The three percent also represents a 14 percent increase in the rate of growth from this year.”’
It was not a unanimous agreement.
The vote was reportedly 4-2, with Ken Elston, Michelle Davis-Younger, and Pamela Sebesky in support with Wolfe. Ian Lovejoy and Theresa Coates-Ellis voted against.
“School board members asked for more money and city council had to weigh school funding with all the other city services and debt services that the city has to provide,” William Patrick Pate, city manager, told Potomac Local.  “They voted to direct me to put a 3 percent increase into the city budget for the local school system, for just the year 2020.”
For the last three years, the budget agreement was a 2.625% increase for 2016 through 2019. But school board members have been asking for more funds, citing a host of issues that need immediate financial addressing, such as teacher salaries, after-school activities, and the ever-growing number of trailer classrooms.
And then there is the need for a new Jennie Dean school, which will cost an estimated $30 million.
“While it is not everything that some of my schools’ friends have asked for, this vote reflects the absolute priority that the council places on Manassas having high-quality public education,” Wolfe wrote, adding that the increased funding could help with maintaining competitive teacher salaries and programs.
Another budget proposal that was brought forward in December included an increased school operating budget of 2.625% as well as an additional .5% specifically dedicated to building the new Jennie Dean school, bringing the total to an increase of 3.1% over the next three years. However, it was rejected.
“You could argue that [this budget] is less” than the one proposed in December, Pate said. However, this agreement “doesn’t stipulate how much money has to be set aside for the new Dean building.” That potentially gives the school board more room to maneuver financially.
This budget’s one-year expiration date means that a 2021 budget will need to be decided as well. Pate surmised that officials would look at that in fall 2019 to reach an agreement.
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Prince William County government offices and facilities will be open on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Still, employees can take unscheduled leave or engage in unscheduled telework due to current weather conditions.
While the county remains open for business, residents are encouraged to check for the latest updates on facility-specific operations by visiting pwcva.gov/emergency.
Some county services may be impacted by the weather. Before visiting a county facility, call ahead or check the county’s website.
Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.
Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) announced that transit service, which was suspended on Tuesday due to winter weather, is expected to resume at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8. Residents relying on public transportation are encouraged to plan accordingly and check for updates before traveling.
In addition to transit disruptions, the city’s trash collection schedule has been adjusted. Monday’s missed routes resumed today, and services will shift forward by one day for the remainder of the week. Tuesday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Wednesday’s on Thursday, and so on.
The City of Fredericksburg’s Public Works Department continues its efforts to clear snow and ice from roadways. Primary collector roads are reported to be in good condition, but some residential and collector roads remain compacted with snow and ice. Crews are applying plowing and chemical treatments as necessary to address these areas. As temperatures drop overnight, roads may refreeze, and drivers are urged to exercise caution when traveling.
The City also reminds property owners and occupants of their obligation to clear sidewalks adjacent to their properties. Snow and ice must be removed within 12 hours after snowfall ends, or by noon the following day if precipitation occurs overnight or on a Sunday. Sand or abrasives may be used if removal isn’t feasible. Residents and businesses are also responsible for clearing ADA access ramps to ensure safe pedestrian passage.
The animals below are STRAYS turned into the PWC Animal Services Center between 01/03/2025 – 01/06/2025. We post photos of stray animals brought to the Center a couple of times each week to help owners find their missing pets.
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Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
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