The ongoing process of formulating the Stafford County Schools Fiscal Year 2025 budget is progressing with a collaborative meeting between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors.
The joint session is set to take place at the school headquarters complex, located at 37 Stafford Avenue, near Route 1 and the county government center, on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
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Local Spotlight: Folks, I’m serious about Local Spotlight being the most effective, affordable advertising I’ve ever offered.
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Snow day: We’re expecting up to three inches of snow today, according to our forecast sponsored by Water’s End Brewery. Send us your snow pictures.
Events: Post your events to our local calendar FREE by clicking this link. We reach 1.5 million readers a year, so FREE ain’t bad for that amount of targeted reach.
MLK Day: Reporter Katherine Madere is covering the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Program & Youth Oratorical Competition, held this year at Colgan Senior High School near Woodbridge.
New Mexican-style: Amelia Breeden’s story about Anita’s New Mexican-style diner reopening near Manassas has drawn some debate on our Facebook page, proving once again that people on social media will argue over anything.
- “Oh man, this brings back wonderful memories from my childhood.”
- “So many great El Salvadoran places in Manassas. I was actually sad to see this.”
Huntley event confusion: Some on the FredNats Facebook page are confused about the event at the baseball stadium honoring Fredericksburg’s “Huntley,” who won season 24 of “The Voice” on NBC.
- “What fun? No food, no game, no concert? So everyone just stares at each other and worships Huntley?”
Trash talkin’: The Stafford County Sheriff took a swipe at Dallas Cowboys fans this morning after their 48-32 loss in the wildcard playoff game. Full story.
Supervisors: Prince William and Stafford counties Board of Supervisors meetings will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Our reporters will cover stories about adding classroom trailers to preserve historic sites.
Shootings: We’re following several breaking stories today, including two shootings, on our homepage.
Drop a line: Tell us how we’re doing and send news tips to [email protected].
Thanks for your continued support of local news in our communities.
Uriah Kiser
Publisher
Potomac Local News
The Board of Supervisors approved a new tax agreement with Amazon Data Services for the next 25 years to generate nearly $1 billion for county tax coffers.
In exchange for tax breaks, the data behemoth will invest $392 million into the county's utility system, upgrading water infrastructure to handle the demands that data centers place on the system, which require large amounts of water to cool the computers inside. Amazon and other utility customers will enjoy the upgrades the data giant will fund.
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The data center behemoth pushed the board to waive its bylaws and approve financial incentives to benefit the company for 25 years. During that time, Amazon promises to build server farms in various spots across the county.
An estimated $6 billion in water and infrastructure upgrades are needed before Amazon can begin to build. Under the proposal, the county would provide tax breaks for up to 60 percent of annual tax revenues generated by the server farms in exchange for Amazon to make the upgrades, to power the water and power-hungry data centers that power the internet.
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Amazon wants to build 510,000 square feet of data center space, prompting a special Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
Supervisors will be asked to approve 510,000 square feet of data center space on 50 acres next to Stafford Hospital, the Potomac Church site. Two server farms will sit on the site if approved.
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Rudy has worked as a Treasurer for Stafford County for 16 years. She began her career in elected office in January 2008. Supervisors commended her for her dedication and leadership throughout her years serving as treasurer.
Garrisonville District Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung expressed her gratitude for Rudy’s commitment amid many unrivaled times, such as a rescission in 2008 and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
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Something is happening at the long-dormant Aquia Town Center site, though it's not what residents have been promised.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously condemned five acres of undeveloped land on the once-thriving shopping center for a new fire station.
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Stafford County Government: "Stafford County Board of Supervisors adopted a second Emergency Ordinance, EO23-02, on December 12, 2023, to extend zero penalties and interest through January 5, 2024. This effort was due to the financial uncertainty concerning the delayed adoption of the federal budget and the effects this may have on the residents of Stafford County. This decision will allow taxpayers more time to pay their Personal Property tax bills."
"There is no State Code authority for the Board to waive penalties and interest, but the Board can set the amount for penalties and interest to $0 and 0%. Virginia Code sets a maximum amount of penalties and interest but no minimum. The changes cannot be applied retroactively. State Code allows an emergency ordinance to delay the penalties and interest for up to 60 days."
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Stafford County Sherrif David Decatur discussed the possibility of introducing traffic cameras and speed cameras to his deputies' traffic enforcement toolkit.
During a meeting of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee today, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, Hartwood District Supervisor Darrell English voiced concerns brought to him by residents who say speeding is out of control along a seven-mile stretch of Route 17, from the Fauquier County line to a Walmart on Village Lakes Parkway.
