In a letter addressed to the Chair and the Supervisors of Prince William County, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth outlined her intention to withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if county leaders don’t give her more employees.

According to the letter, the Prince William County Prosecutor’s Office is operating with 26 fewer positions than required.  A recent time study showed the office has a deficit of seven attorneys and 19 administrative staff, Ashworth wrote.

On April 18, 2024, supervisors voted in a straw poll and decided to fund an additional four attorneys and four administrative staff for Ashworth’s office. Ashworth asked for 16 new people and asserted that the office cannot sustain its current level of service and must take steps to reduce the caseload. As it stands, Ashworth is set to receive $13 million from the county government to operate her office for the coming fiscal year, starting July 1, 2024. The figure does not include funding from Manassas and Manassas Park cities, for which Ashworth also prosecutes criminal cases.

In response to the straw poll, Ashworth wrote supervisors and listed a series of Class 1 and 2 misdemeanors to which she may no longer assign a prosecutor, including petit larceny, shoplifting, narcotic charges, underage alcohol offenses, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, escapes, obscenity, false identification and false report to police, destruction of property, trespassing, reckless driving (unless fatal), and all traffic and operator license misdemeanors.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is set to approve its entire FY 2025 budget tomorrow.

“The bottom line is that this office was not properly staffed and funded for decades as the County grew up around us,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local. “The time study was able to finally give us a clear staffing standard across the state for all prosecutor’s offices.”

Ashworth, a Democrat, was re-elected to office in November 2023 and is in the first year of her second four-year term.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia does not fund prosecution of misdemeanor cases – only felonies. In smaller jurisdictions, it is easier for the prosecutor to just handle all the misdemeanors as well. However, other large jurisdictions do not handle all of the misdemeanors as [Prince William County] does,” Ashworth adds.

Acknowledging the impact of this decision, Ashworth emphasized the need to focus limited resources on misdemeanors deemed most critical, such as DUI, weapon offenses, and violent crime.

Ashworth’s threats to cut prosecutorial services garnered a quick response from supervisors.

“She claims her predecessor understaffed his office. I don’t recall anyone claiming Paul Ebert [Ashworth’s predecessor] didn’t prosecute enough. The question is efficiency. If Fairfax can do more with less, why can’t she?” asked Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Wier.

During a presentation earlier this month, Ashworth told the Board of County Supervisors that of her 54 office employees, 29 were prosecutors when she took over from her predecessor Paul Ebert, Virginia’s longest-serving prosecutor from 1968 until his retirement in 2019. Since that time dozens of full-time positions have been added to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, resulting in nearly 80 employees.

“By supporting eight new positions in FY25, in addition to fulfilling the three-year staffing plan introduced by Ms. Ashworth in 2021, I am confident that this Board has provided the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney with the necessary resources to fulfill its prosecutorial duties to our residents,” said Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye. “These new positions will make our Commonwealth’s Attorney office the largest in Virginia, eclipsing even the staffing levels of Fairfax County, which serves more than two times as many residents.”

Since she took over, the Board of County Supervisors has increased funding for her office by $6.4 million and added 32 employees. This represents a cumulative percentage increase of about 93.5% over five years. All the while, Ashworth is pursuing fewer cases than her predecessor, choosing to indict 75 felonies on average per month compared to the 350-per-month average Ebert pursued.

Despite Ashworth having successfully lobbied to increase her office budget to the largest it has ever been in county history, she has the fewest average prosecutions of her predecessors. Meanwhile, the county’s murder rate has doubled, and violent crime increased by 70% since 2019.

In a letter to constituents, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega called Ashworth’s letter a “dangerous temper tantrum” describing it as “a stain on the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and unbecoming of an elected official.” She also questioned how a 2% increase in caseload could represent a $2 million budget request.

Both Weir and Vega pointed to neighboring Fairfax County, which cut misdemeanor prosecutions and has subsequently seen a rise in overall crime, with Vega rhetorically asking, “How has that worked out for them?”

In addition to the potential for increased crime in Prince William, the change would also increase the workload of Prince William County Police officers. In her letter, Ashworth clarified that while her office will no longer prosecute these offenses, the burden of prosecution will shift to the arresting police officer, who must handle traditional prosecutor duties such as subpoenaing witnesses, answering discovery, and presenting evidence in court.

“There will be an additional burden on the department in that we will need to train officers on how to do the legal courtroom work traditionally done by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office,” said Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham. “This will also likely result in officers spending more time in court and less time in the community.”

Newsham added that there likely would be a “negative impact on conviction rates during the learning curve.” adding, “Our officers are committed, dedicated, and professional, but they are not lawyers.”

“I don’t think this board responds well to threats and Prince William County does not have an unlimited source of revenue,” Weir added when asked if Ashworth’s threats would lead to him consider changing his vote. “We’re growing the government at a level that is unsustainable given the revenues.”

The Board of County Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the McCoart County Government Building, 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

Alan Gloss is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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At the recent Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting, which convened to discuss and finalize the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, a series of significant decisions were reached during the budget markup session. Supervisors engaged in deliberations and voting on various funding allocations and tax rates, reflecting the diverse perspectives and priorities within the board.

One of the pivotal outcomes of the session was the passage of a higher $3.70 per $100 $100 of assessed value Computer and Peripheral (data center) tax, which garnered a 7-1 vote in favor. It’s the second hike in as many years for this tax, up from $1.80 in 2022. Supporters have called for the county’s burgeoning data center industry, set to overtake neighboring Loudoun County as the world’s epicenter for server farms that power the internet, to pay more.

Additionally, there was unanimous support, with an 8-0 vote for setting the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 assessed value. This move aims to balance meeting the county’s financial needs and alleviating the tax burden on residents. The decision means that, for the first time in years, residents will see an average decrease in their real estate tax bills of about $240 instead of the typical increase.

However, not all proposed funding allocations received unanimous approval. A notable instance was the failure to secure additional funds amounting to $3.9 million for the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC OmniRide), with a tied 4-4 vote. This outcome reflects the differing opinions among supervisors regarding the prioritization of transportation initiatives within the budget.

Similarly, a proposal to allocate $833,000 for Americans for Wartime Experience, a long-talked-about museum that announced more than a decade ago that it would build a facility on 70 acres behind what is now an At Home store (formerly KMart) in Dale City, faced resistance and was ultimately rejected in a 6-2 vote.

Despite these challenges, several measures successfully gained approval during the session. This includes allocating funds for county services and initiatives, such as approving eight full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. Additionally, updates to the data center ordinance were endorsed, reflecting the county’s commitment to supporting its growing technology sector while ensuring responsible development practices.

Moreover, the board approved various community initiatives to enhance residents’ quality of life. This includes funding for park updates and a litter control crew, underscoring the importance of preserving and maintaining the county’s natural resources and public spaces. Additionally, the approval of county-sponsored special events and the addition of a sustainability environmental analyst demonstrates the board’s commitment to promoting community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Supervisors also shared their perspectives and priorities regarding the budget during the meeting. Supervisor Tom Gordy emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility while advocating for measures to reduce the tax burden on residents. Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin highlighted the need to protect small businesses while supporting necessary tax increases to fund essential services. Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega emphasized the importance of affordability and accessibility for county residents, advocating for measures to bridge the gap and ensure all residents can thrive in Prince William County.

The Board of County Supervisors will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to adopt its annual spending plan, which will take effect on July 1.

Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

Prince William Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega (Press Release): The Board of Supervisors is currently working on the budget for the 2025 fiscal year. As part of these discussions, we are considering whether to raise the tax rate on data centers from the current rate of $2.15. Each raise of $0.05 generates approximately $1.8M. If we were to raise the rate to $3.70, it would generate approximately $55.8M in new revenue.

Below are options the Board may consider:

1) Leave as is ($2.15 per $100)
2) Raise gradually over next 4 years
3) Adopt higher rate now ($3.70 per $100)

For comparison, the tax rate on data centers in Loudoun County is $4.15, and in Fairfax County it’s $4.57.

Complete the survey now. This survey will be available until Friday, April 12. Thank you very much for your participation. Your opinion is greatly appreciated.

If you feel strongly about this, consider sending an email to the entire Board of County Supervisors by emailing [email protected]. You can also find a directory of phone numbers for each member of the Board on the county website.

Finally, consider attending one of the last few budget meetings on April 9, April 16, or the April 23 and speaking publicly. The last official public hearing is on April 9. You deserve to have your voice heard.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, community leaders and residents of Prince William County will gather for a significant milestone in local infrastructure development. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, representing Virginia’s 7th congressional district, will join Prince William County officials for a press conference marking the securing of $2.5 million in funding for an interchange at Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway.

Recently signed into law, the funding is earmarked for constructing an interchange and other enhancements at the intersection of Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway.

The event, scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 10 to 10:30 a.m., will occur at the James J. McCoart Administration Building Plaza, located at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge, Virginia.

The project’s focal point is the establishment of a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) at the Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway intersection. This infrastructure development aims to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance safety measures, improve accessibility and connectivity, and bolster regional economic initiatives.

Additionally, the allocated funds will support the construction of sidewalks and trail segments, contributing to pedestrian and cyclist safety while enhancing their mobility options within the community.

Spanberger’s efforts underscore a collaborative approach between federal and local authorities to address critical infrastructure needs, reflecting a commitment to advancing the well-being and prosperity of Prince William County residents.

Prince William County told its residents Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.7th) will be in Woodbridge On Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

It’s the latest stop for Spanberger, who is on a regional tour presenting ceremonial checks with her congressional office logo and doling out federal funds for transportation projects. Last week, Spanbeger presented a ceremonial check for $1.7 million to Stafford County supervisors.

The Board of County Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Hear the agenda for that meeting.

Here’s the alert the county executive’s office sent to residents:

Members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors may attend a ceremony hosted by Congresswoman Spanberger to present officials with a $2.5 million check for the Minnieville Road – Prince William Parkway Interchange Project as part of the FY24 congressionally directed spending package on Tuesday, April 9.

Date
Tuesday, April 9

Time
10:00 a.m.

Location
Sean T. Connaughton Plaza
1 County Complex Court
Prince William, VA 22192

Please note that no votes will be taken at the event and County business will not be transacted.

Residents living near a proposed Route 28 bypass near Manassas express a loss of trust in the county government's decision-making process. Initially, the county voted against the $300 million, four-lane, four-mile road extension of Godwin Drive, only to reverse its stance shortly after that.

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“The Prince William Board of County Supervisors this week gave a developer permission to construct taller data centers near Independent Hill than was previously allowed,” Insidenova.com reports.

The Prince William County School Board approved a $2 billion budget during its meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The FY 2025 budget starts July 1, 2024. Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade’s budget will give employees an average pay increase of 6%.

The division will also add 125 new teacher assistants serving students with special needs, 23 kindergarten teacher assistants, 16 reading specialists, and a stipend for Individualized Education Plans (IEP) case managers.

The Capital Improvements Program (CIP) funds new additions and facilities to address need, renovation projects for older schools, and advancing sustainability goals.

Moreover, Board budget allocations will fund additional personnel for a STEM/robotics coordinator, human trafficking specialist, Language Arts supervisor, and administrative interns at middle and high schools. Further investments are made in teachers with 19 and 20 years of experience, along with a lifted experience cap to 25 years of teaching experience.

The school’s budget now lies in the hands of the Board of County Supervisors, which transfers 57.23% of its budget to the school division. It approves the county’s overall budget in April.

The Virginia General Assembly’s budget, which includes an additional $1.2 billion in general fund support for Direct Aid for Public Education over the upcoming two years, provides $64.8 million more for PWCS than was in the Governor’s proposed budget, which reduced general fund support for Direct Aid by $294 million. Extra funding would include more help for English Learners ($14.6 million), the state’s share of 3% salary increases each year for teachers and staff ($32.7 million), and monies to maintain the state’s commitments to Virginia schools and local communities.

School Board Chairman Babur Lateef, running for Virginia Lt. Governor in 2025, urged Youngkin to pass the budget. However, Youngkin has the proposed budget, driven by Democrats who hold the majority in the General Assembly, a “backward” budget rife with tax increases. He said he would not approve the budget as it stands.