Stafford County leaders are responding to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s recent veto of SB1307, a bill that would have allowed counties and cities across Virginia to hold voter referendums on implementing a 1% local sales and use tax dedicated to public school construction and renovation projects.
The legislation, introduced by Senator Jeremy McPike (D-29, Prince William, Stafford), sought to add Stafford County to the list of localities eligible to consider the tax through a ballot referendum. McPike criticized the governor’s decision on social media, calling it a move that blocks local communities from choosing how to fund needed school improvements.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Setback for Disabled Veterans Exemption Reimbursements
Senator Jeremy McPike’s SB 1312, which sought supplemental payments for localities heavily impacted by real estate tax exemptions for disabled veterans, has died in committee. On January 23, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted 7-6 to pass the bill indefinitely, effectively halting its progress this session.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
A debate over proposed legislation targeting panhandling in road medians sparked a spirited discussion among Stafford County Supervisors during their January 21 meeting. The proposed bill, sponsored by Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County), seeks to impose fines on motorists and pedestrians who exchange items in roadway medians to improve safety and reduce traffic disruptions.
The legislation was also a topic of discussion on the Potomac Local News Podcast, where Milde elaborated on his rationale behind the bill in an interview with Publisher Uriah Kiser.
Safety and Traffic Flow Concerns
During the podcast, Milde emphasized the safety and traffic issues posed by panhandling in medians.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
In this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, Uriah Kiser interviews Delegate Paul Milde, a Republican representing Stafford County in Virginia’s 64th District. Delegate Milde discusses his reelection campaign, his work on transportation funding, data center growth, land preservation efforts, and revitalizing blighted areas like Aquia Town Center.
Stay informed by signing up for our free email newsletter at PotomacLocalNews.com, where we’ve been publishing local news for Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Woodbridge for over 15 years.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more interviews and local news coverage.
On November 13, the House Privileges and Elections Committee convened to discuss House Joint Resolution 9, a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution that seeks to safeguard marriage equality. Delegates Michelle Maldonado (D-Manassas), Rozia Henson (D-Lorton, Woodbridge), and Paul Milde (R), representing parts of Northern Virginia, participated in the proceedings, which underscored Virginia's ongoing evolution in its approach to civil rights and marriage laws.
The resolution, introduced by Delegate Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax), aims to remove outdated language defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman. It also establishes protections ensuring that marriage rights are granted equally, regardless of sex, gender, or race. Sickles highlighted the growing public support for marriage equality, citing polling that shows a significant shift in attitudes since the original constitutional ban was enacted in 2006.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
On Tuesday, the House Privileges and Elections Committee in Virginia voted to advance House Joint Resolution 2 (HJ2), a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to restore voting rights for individuals with felony convictions upon release from incarceration and strengthen voting protections for individuals with disabilities. The resolution, introduced by Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria), was passed by the committee in a narrow vote of 12 to 9.
Under this amendment, individuals who have completed incarceration for felony convictions would automatically regain their voting rights, eliminating the current requirement for rights restoration by the governor.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
In a rare move, following Donald Trump's re-election to the presidency, the Virginia House of Delegates Privileges and Elections Committee has scheduled a surprise meeting to review three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
The meeting, set for 11 a.m. tomorrow, November 13, 2024, will take place in House Committee Room C—206. It will catch the public’s attention ahead of the General Assembly’s regular session in January 2025.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Delegate Candi Mundon King (D-Prince William, Stafford) introduced two bills in the General Assembly Session that deal with transportation.
The first would cap the total amount of tolls drivers pay on the E-ZPass Express Lanes in the state to $200 per month. The bill would also allow disabled military veterans to use the lanes at no charge.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
"The Superintendent and School Board provided tangible ways to improve student outcomes, urging legislators to provide Stafford County with increased funding necessary to support high expectations for student performance, provide a safe, positive learning environment, and provide better conditions to recruit, retain and develop staff. Additional discussion focused on the need for a reduction in the burden of unfunded mandates and inefficient government practices."
"Stafford Schools urged legislators to consider Virginia’s K-12 funding formula to provide a more accurate cost of education in the local area, and to provide for additional local sales and use taxes for school construction or renovation. The School Board encouraged elimination of support position caps to allow an increase in Basic Aid funding. To support the advocation of increased funding, school administrators laid out changes to Standards of Quality caps that would provide for an increase in counselors. psychologists, social workers, assistant principals, English Language Learner teachers, and Work Based Learning coordinators.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Paul Milde, a Republican running for the newly-drawn House District 64 seat in Stafford County, says GOP voters may decide in June what candidate they want to run in the November General Election.
However, the announcement comes as Milde is, so far, the only Republican to announce a run for the district, which contains central Stafford County, with areas south of Garrisonville Road, south to Route 17, and east to the Potomac River.