The Stafford County Board of Supervisors began its first meeting of 2025 with a significant leadership transition. Supervisor Deuntay Diggs was elected chairman in a 4-3 vote, succeeding outgoing Chairwoman Meg Bohmke. Diggs addressed his new role during the meeting and outlined his expectations for the year ahead, emphasizing transparency and teamwork.
Chairman Diggs’ Vision
Supervisor Diggs took a moment to reflect on the responsibilities of his new position and the values he brings to the role. “The citizens in the George Washington District knew that I was a law enforcement officer in this community. I love my job. And part of being a law enforcement officer is conducting ourselves with integrity. And so I will continue to do so, and I can serve in this role and do that as well,” Diggs said.
He further expressed a strong desire to foster collaboration among the board members. “The goal is that we’re gonna work together as a team. I’m not asking, I’m demanding that. That’s the expectation,” he stated. Diggs’ remarks came as a call to unity, encouraging board members to prioritize cooperation and accountability.
The board also elected Supervisor Tinesha Allen as vice chair in a 5-2 vote.
Community Concerns Addressed
Several public speakers attended the meeting to voice concerns, including issues surrounding the treatment of citizen volunteers on county boards. Mary Becelia, a former Library Trustee Board member, reiterated the need for protection for citizen volunteers and called for a formal apology from the board regarding her removal last year.
Aquia District Supervisor Monica Gary was censured for her role in Becelia’s removal in December 2024.
Diggs was acknowledged explicitly for his prior apology to Basile. Public speaker Clayton Calvert remarked, “Thank you, Supervisor Diggs, for your ongoing courage, not only for your role as a police officer in this community but on this dais, when you showed bravery in a different setting.”
Transparency and Accountability Discussions
During the meeting, a proposal was raised to revise the board’s Code of Conduct, focusing on transparency and accountability, particularly for board members working as county employees. Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch suggested adding a clause requiring employees to take leave for board-related activities during work hours and to submit leave requests for public review. While the motion was withdrawn, the board agreed to revisit the discussion in a future work session.
In response, Diggs reiterated his commitment to transparency. “If there’s any, clearly there’s only two people on this board that this comment and this is aimed at, and that’s myself and Supervisor English. And if anyone has questions about how much I work or when I’m working or when I’m not working, they can always contact the Sheriff’s office,” he said.
Diggs is a county sheriff’s deputy, while English retired from the sheriff’s office as a deputy and still works there part-time.
Supervisor Monica Gary’s No Votes
Supervisor Monica Gary cast “no” votes on multiple appointments during the meeting, explaining that her decision stemmed from what she described as retaliation by the board for her previous actions. Gary had publicly called out the board’s handling of Mary Becelia’s removal from the Library Trustee Board, accusing the board of violating state code.
Gary’s dissenting votes come after her recent announcement that she would not seek a second term on the board. This decision follows her censure in 2024 for her stance on the controversial removal of Becelia. Gary stated, “It is my position that because this board is continuing to retaliate against me by withholding appointments when I exercise free speech to call this board’s violation out of the Virginia Code 4.2.1-35 when removing Ms. Becelia, I will not support any of the appointments.”
The board concluded its meeting focusing on setting a collaborative tone for the year ahead.
Elected officials are questioning why Quantico Marine Corps Base didn't tell the public about an attempted security breach at its main gate on May 3, 2024.
After pressing base officials, seven days after the incident, Potomac Local News broke the news of an early-morning incident in which two men driving a box truck approached the base's main gate on Fuller Road outside Dumfries. They claimed to be Amazon contractors making a delivery to the base's post office. Despite lacking proper credentials, they attempted to access the base.
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Stafford County Supervisor Crystal Vanuch, recognizing the crucial role of the Fredericksburg Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) in transportation planning, recently reached out seeking data on the teleworking trends among Federal Government employees.
This inquiry, driven by the concern that a significant portion of Virginia Railway Express (VRE) riders are federal employees, underscores the potential impact of a recall to in-person office work on peak-hour traffic congestion along Interstate 95.
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Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky delivered a comprehensive presentation to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 20, 2024, regarding increased property assessments.
Mayausky’s presentation, which marked his 12th time addressing the board on reassessments, aimed to shed light on the reasons behind the eye-popping surge in property assessments, which jumped 23% in two years.
The presentation delved into the property assessment process, with County Assessor Bart Stevenson providing detailed insights into the assessment methodology and market trends. Stevenson highlighted significant increases in residential and commercial property values, attributing the surge to factors such as low inventory, steady demand, and the rise of industrial and data center projects.
This low housing inventory has several implications for property assessments:
- Steady Demand: Despite the limited availability of homes for sale, there is still steady demand from buyers. This steady demand has kept property prices elevated over the past few years.
- Increased Property Values: The combination of low inventory and steady demand has led to increased property values. Stevenson highlighted that residential property values in Stafford County saw a significant uptick, rising approximately 13% during the reassessment period.
- Impact on Assessment Methodology: Assessors consider various factors when determining property values, including recent sales data, market trends, and property characteristics. Low housing inventory can create challenges in accurately assessing property values due to limited comparable sales data.
- Affordability Concerns: Rising property values can impact housing affordability for residents, particularly those looking to purchase homes in the area. The increase in property assessments may lead to higher property taxes, affecting homeowners’ overall housing costs.
The median home value in Stafford, as of January 2024, is $487,773.
Mayausky highlighted Virginia’s unique constitutional mandate to assess properties at 100% fair market value in his address. Effective January 1, 2024, reassessments are based on sales data, primarily from 2022 and 2023. The reassessment process, outlined by Virginia’s Code, requires at least 15 days of hearings to ensure transparency and accountability. Mayausky also emphasized Virginia’s status as a “truth in taxation” state, underscoring the importance of the effective tax rate in offsetting increased reassessment values.
As explained by Mayausky, the effective tax rate fluctuates to balance the increased property values. Per the Board of Supervisors request, re-assessments occur on a biennial cycle to accurately reflect market trends and distribute the tax burden equitably among taxpayers.
Mayausky addressed concerns about the confusion surrounding the effective rate, acknowledging the need for clarity and transparency. “I think that effective rate is confusing people,” said Hartwood District Supervisor Darrell English. “I don’t know if you can do one of your little videos, and you can put it out there and explain.”
Mayausky assured the board that efforts are made to educate taxpayers through various channels, including informational videos and online resources.
Residents were encouraged to appeal their assessments if they disagreed with the valuations, with a deadline of March 8 to submit appeals. Stevenson assured residents that the reassessment office is committed to addressing concerns and assisting throughout the appeal process.
Looking ahead, Mayausky outlined projections for future tax revenue based on ongoing development projects, particularly data centers, which are expected to contribute to the county’s tax base significantly.
During the presentation, Scott Mayausky discussed future tax projections from data centers, emphasizing their significant potential to contribute to the county’s tax revenue. Amazon cut a deal with the county to build at least four data centers, with the first to sit next to Stafford Hospital.
Mayausky noted that data centers are a high-profile class of property for the county.”We increased the land value for the identified data center projects by 429%. Fortunately, in the region, there were several sales that happened in December, so we had really good data. So we were able to be very aggressive but also very confident in the values that we put on the data centers,” he said.
Data centers typically house extensive computer equipment and infrastructure and have a high taxable value. Mayausky mentioned that a 250,000-square-foot data center building could potentially have upward of a billion dollars worth of taxable property within it. This substantial value contributes significantly to the county’s tax base.
Mayausky said the county could expect to see the full benefit of the data center reflected in the 2024 reassessment and that the county would likely see the most substantial revenue impact starting from January 1, 2026. Data center projects are expected to be fully operational by this time, with completed buildings and equipment installed, resulting in increased taxable property value.
Neighboring Prince William County, with about three times the population of Stafford County, has seen a proliferation of data centers in the past five years and will soon house the most data centers in the world.
Despite promises from county leaders of tax relief spurred by the data centers, an FY 2025 $1.77 billion proposed budget by its county administrator envisions an average increase of $243 for each homeowner. The median home value in Prince William County, as of December 2023, was $528,000.
Expressing his gratitude, Anderson said, “I appreciate the support from these dedicated public servants. I look forward to fighting alongside them to improve the lives of Stafford County residents.”
Anderson, who grew up in Spotsylvania County, emphasized his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the community, attributing them to what he referred to as “Biden’s failed presidency.” He outlined his campaign’s focus on taking on key issues, including securing the border and restoring America’s standing in the world.
Crystal Vanuch, past Chair of the Board of Supervisors and a former contender for the congressional seat in the 2022 GOP primary, voiced her full support for Anderson. Vanuch highlighted their discussions on federal issues impacting localities and taxpayers, endorsing Anderson as the candidate who understands the district and is poised to fight for its residents in Congress.
Meg Bohmke, the current Chair of the Board of Supervisors, joined the endorsement, emphasizing the need for a representative who will advocate for the district, secure the border, and strengthen the economy. Bohmke urged others to rally behind Anderson, noting his roots in the 7th District and his deserving support.
Darrell English, representing the Hartwood District on the Board of Supervisors, echoed the sentiment, calling on voters to support Anderson, a local figure dedicated to serving the community and the country.
This marks Anderson’s second run at the 7th District Congressional seat. In 2022, he ran in a crowded party Primary Election.
The race has become more complex with Vega endorsing Cameron Hamilton, a Navy SEAL combat veteran and former Homeland Security division director. Vega, the party nominee in the 2022 race, supported Hamilton at the Prince William County Republican Committee meeting this week. Her nod comes after similar endorsements from Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia, 5th District).
The endorsements come amid a competitive landscape, with eight Republicans, including Anderson, and eight Democrats, such as Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, Margaret Franklin, Brianna Sewell, and Elizabeth Guzman, vying for the open seat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Notably, incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger has opted not to seek reelection, aiming to run for Virginia’s governorship in 2025.
As the candidates vie for the open seat, Virginia’s Presidential Primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024. Early voting is underway, both by mail and in person. Find where to vote early.
