As Fredericksburg city officials weigh budget cuts, tax increases, and federal funding uncertainties, one possible source of future financial relief came up during a joint City Council and School Board budget work session: a data center under development in Celebrate Virginia South.
Councilman Jon Gerlach (At-Large) asked whether the city could receive advance personal property tax payments from Stack Infrastructure, the company behind the project. The goal: explore whether Fredericksburg could tap into future revenue sooner to help offset current budget pressures.
City Manager Tim Baroody said such relief is unlikely in the near term.
âItâs a long shot⊠but we may have clarity by the end of the year,â Baroody said during the April 1 meeting.
The city is negotiating a water services agreement with Stack Infrastructure, which is expected to continue through the end of 2025. Even if the agreement moves forward on schedule, Baroody said any infrastructure-related prepayments would not translate into operational revenue for the city for several more fiscal years.
Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley added that while early payments are not off the table, they would require a highly specific and favorable alignment of circumstances.
Josh Summits, Fredericksburgâs Director of Economic Development, is reviewing how other Virginia localities structure data center agreements, including options for revenue-sharing and the timing of tax collections.
The conversation surfaced amid a challenging fiscal outlook. The city has proposed a 3-cent real estate tax rate increase to maintain essential services and fund public schools. At the same time, city and school officials are navigating a $1.5 million funding gap and the threat of reduced or eliminated federal grant support.
The Fredericksburg City Council approved the Stack Infrastructure project in early March. At the time, questions were raised over whether Dominion Energy would prioritize this data centerâs power needs over those of new residential or commercial developments in the region.
Despite the uncertainty, council members and school leaders pledged to continue working together to meet the needs of Fredericksburgâs residents.
A shakeup is underway in Stafford County politics. Longtime Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke announced she will not seek reelection, while School Board Member Maya Guy declared her candidacy for the Aquia District seat on the Board of Supervisors.
During the April 1, 2025, Board of Supervisors meeting, Bohmke, who has served 12 years on the board and four years previously on the school board, said she is stepping away from public office.
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Manassas is preparing to tap into $700,000 in state funding to clean up petroleum-contaminated soil beneath the former Manassas Ice and Fuel Company, Inc. (MIFCO) site. This will pave the way for a second public parking garage and a long-sought hotel development in the heart of downtown.
City leaders recently purchased the former MIFCO property next to City Hall for $3.1 million. Once home to an oil company, the site will eventually house a new multi-level parking garageâa critical component in revitalizing the cityâs hotel plans following the 2023 demolition of the Old Towne Inn, which the city acquired for $5.75 million.
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Families and adventure seekers in Stafford County can gear up for a fun-filled outdoor experience this spring as Blue and Terrenceâs Excellent Egg Venture returns for another year. The event, which kicked off on April 1, 2025, encourages participants to explore local parks and tourism sites while hunting for hidden eggs and earning prizes.
âWe created Blue and Terrenceâs Excellent Egg Venture as a way to highlight our parks, get families outdoors, and bring more visitors to Stafford,â said Lisa Logan, Tourism Program Director for Stafford County. âLast year, we launched it in just two weeks, and we received so much positive feedback that weâve spent this entire year making it even better.â
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From a single closet shared by two churches to a bustling community lifeline helping tens of thousands annually, the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year â and its mission is more critical than ever.
Since its founding, the pantry has assisted more than 500,000 people, thanks to the support of 10,000 donors and an army of volunteers. What began as a small operation by St. Paulâs Episcopal Church and St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Haymarket has become a vital resource for families facing hunger across western Prince William County.
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Editorâs Note: This is the first in a six-part series called âA Conversation with the Superintendent,â based on a sit-down interview with Stafford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith. The series explores Smithâs vision for the division, how he plans to fix school transportation, address special education and equity gaps, manage a growing budget crisis, recruit new talent, and navigate ongoing debates about diversity and inclusion. Stay with us each week for new installments.
When Dr. Daniel W. Smith started his new role as Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools on December 9, 2024, he didnât come in with plans to make sweeping changes overnight. Instead, he saw an opportunity to listen.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) on Friday defended his decision to veto a bill that would have let Stafford County voters decide whether to raise the local sales tax by one percent to help pay for school construction.
In a response to Potomac Local News, Youngkin said he rejected the measure to protect Virginians from what he sees as over-taxation at both the state and local levels.
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In celebration of Theatre in Our Schools Month, the Stafford County School Board has honored two of its most inspiring theatre educators, Michael DâAddario of Stafford High School and Lisa Cover Tucci of Colonial Forge High School.
Both teachers were recognized during the March 11, 2025, School Board meeting, where board members praised their commitment to student growth, creative excellence, and community engagement through the performing arts.
Mr. Michael DâAddario has built a reputation at Stafford High School for producing performances that rival professional stages. Under his direction, officials said that students gain hands-on experience in every aspect of theatreâfrom acting and script analysis to lighting, sound design, and stage management.
His students have earned top honors at regional theatre festivals, and alumni frequently return to share how his mentorship shaped their college and career paths.
Ms. Lisa Cover Tucci, the longtime theatre teacher at Colonial Forge High School, is equally beloved. Her productions often tackle complex themes, giving students a platform to explore identity, empathy, and the world around them.
Her program has grown significantly over the years, drawing students from all walks of life who come together to create meaningful art.
Editorâs note: An earlier version of this article contained misattributed quotes that have been removed.
The county's current noise ordinance, which hasn't been significantly updated since the 1990s, is being reviewed after residents pointed out the low-frequency noise produced by data centers.
"I've never seen an issue unite people across political parties, across every box, you can think of when it comes to the concerns and issues that have been raised by [the data centers]," Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega said in the Board's March 18 meeting.
