STAFFORD, Va. — The average homeowner in Stafford County will pay $130 more in property taxes starting July 1, 2025, after the Board of Supervisors approved a three-percent increase to the real estate tax rate—the county’s central funding source for local government and schools. Homeowners with a property assessed at the county average of $434,400 will receive a $4,069 bill.

According to data from Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky, average residential tax bills have increased 62% since 2012, when the typical homeowner paid $2,506. Over the same period, the average home value rose nearly 60%, slightly trailing the pace of tax increases.

After a marathon meeting that stretched past midnight on April 15, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors adopted a $399 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, along with a $1.45 billion, 10-year Capital Improvement Program. The board’s vote also set the new real estate tax rate at $0.9236 per $100 of assessed value, effective with the June 2025 tax payment. Supervisors Meg Bohmke (Falmouth), Crystal Vanuch (Rock Hill), and Darryl English (Hartwood), all Republicans, voted to oppose all tax increases.

The decision followed hours of tense debate, marked by pointed exchanges between board members as they wrestled with competing priorities. Despite the friction, the board passed a budget that prioritizes education, public safety, and capital infrastructure, while cutting more than $4 million from earlier proposals.

Key Budget Outcomes
The adopted budget includes:

• $11.8 million in additional funding for Stafford County Public Schools, supporting teacher raises and debt service for three new schools.
• A 2.75% mid-year raise for county employees, effective January 1, 2026.
• $4.5 million for public safety, including funding for a new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• $3.9 million for general government operations, including eight new revenue-neutral staff positions.

Nearly 86% of all new revenue is dedicated to education. Supervisors emphasized their commitment to ensuring school employee raises remain on par with county staff, with revenue from a proposed 1% meals tax increase expected to fund the pay boost. That public hearing is scheduled for May 20, 2025.

Supervisor Monica Gary (Aquia District) supported that strategy, stating, “I’m not comfortable taking the plan we had to earmark the meals tax for schools and giving it to the jail.”

Budget Cuts and Tradeoffs
To bring the tax rate below the originally proposed level, supervisors approved over $4.1 million in cuts, including:

Reduced funding for agencies such as the Economic Development Authority and Fredericksburg Regional Alliance.

• Scaled-back vehicle purchases.
• Delayed salary increases from July 1 to January 1.
• Shifted sheriff’s vehicle purchases from ongoing to one-time funds.

Despite these reductions, the board left a $344,959 funding gap, instructing the county administrator to find the savings elsewhere in the budget.

Supervisor Meg Bohmke (Falmouth District) expressed frustration with how some changes were introduced during the meeting, saying, “We should have all been properly informed at the same time… I don’t like doing this in front of everybody. This is really kind of embarrassing.”

Jail Funding Sparks Debate
A narrow 4-3 vote resulted in the board rejecting a proposed $2.1 million increase to the Rappahannock Regional Jail budget, opting instead to maintain the facility’s current level of funding. The decision prompted immediate questions about its potential impact on jail operations and employee compensation.

Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung (Garrisonville District) asked, “Does that mean jail officers get no pay increase?” Supervisor Darrell E. English (Hartwood District) added, “I’m not comfortable with that,” though he ultimately supported the cut.

Supervisor Crystal Vanuch (Rock Hill District), who frequently clashed with colleagues during the meeting, warned about long-term impacts: “Pretty soon we’re going to have a tariff tax.”

When you’re literally dealing with a narcissist to work with, this is what, at some times, you’re just like, enough is enough,” said Vice Chairwoman Tinesha Allen (Griffis-Widewater District). She later clarified the comment was directed at a fellow board member, not a constituent. The remark appeared aimed at Vanuch, amid visible friction between the two.

Chairman Deuntay Diggs (George Washington District) acknowledged the legal risks associated with the funding change but expressed confidence in resolving the matter with regional partners. “If you do something to harm people, or I perceive that it’s going to harm people, I get heated,” he said.

The board also reallocated funds collected by the transient occupancy tax (TOT), which is currently collected from hotel stays of 30 days or less, from the Parks Department to the general fund. Diggs defended the decision, clarifying, “We’re not defunding them… we are taking one to fill a placement and then the 2% is going back in.”

Capital Improvements and Bonds Approved
The board approved $84 million in capital spending for FY2026, with long-term investments planned over the next decade. Major upcoming projects include:

• Rebuilding Drew Middle School
• Renovating Hartwood Elementary
• Rebuilding the Aquia Fire Station
• Installing sidewalks on Greenspring Road
• Upgrading the Onville Road/Route 1 intersection
• Phased water and sewer system upgrades

To support school construction, the board authorized up to $180 million in Virginia Public School Authority bonds.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The second annual Fredericksburg Film Festival kicked off last night with a reception at the Courtyard Marriott, where filmmakers, judges, and festival organizers gathered in an informal atmosphere to meet one another. The event was followed by a preview of a few of the entries in a conference room off to the side. Event organizer Dalton Okolo sported two high-powered cameras as he mingled with the crowd. “This is our second year, we have to figure ourselves out,” he said. The festival is supported by the Fredericksburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism, as well as several local businesses. At the opening reception, it was too early to predict the outcome, but Okolo was optimistic. “There are large amounts of enthusiasm online,” he said. Okolo is joined on the management side by Executive Producer & Experience Designer Wa’ad Adam, and producers Carlos Naranjo, Antonella Membreno, and John Heyn. Okolo is a director, writer, and producer based in Fredericksburg, known for his Virginia-based short films, including “She’s Mine Now” (2022) and “Missing You” (2021). He is with 1108 Media, where he encourages Virginia-based filmmakers, strengthening the local film community. After the reception, there was a “Shorts Block,” with films “Dirty Towel,” “How to Feel Fullfilled at Work,” and “Waiting for April,” a film by a couple of Alexandria filmmakers Timothy Parsons and Kyle Schick. In "Waiting for April," they crafted a story that focuses on the challenges of a first date later in life. April is a senior that didn’t date growing up, so now she’s elderly and navigates getting asked out on a date. Parsons has another film called "Memory Project," which will also be featured at this festival on Sunday. The following day, Thursday, films are scheduled at various venues around town. Each session begins with a workshop, and often, the filmmakers attend the showings as well and answer questions afterward. Some of the more interesting films include "Skategoat," where a young boy dreams of being a professional skateboarder while escaping the world of gangs in which he grew up in Venice Beach. Another is "500 Fireflies," which deals with a single father who relocates with his daughter, and then there's "Beacon," which features a shipwrecked survivor and a lighthouse keeper. There are several documentary films as well, including "Calamity and Mercy," about Ukrainian refugees, "Escape from Extinction: Rewilding," about rebuilding ecosystems, and "All Things Metal," which focuses on a family-run iron forge, heavy metal music and a shared disability. Local filmmaker Robert Kendzie has a film in the festival, "The Wychwood Cycle," that explores a fantasy character who lives in the woods. He had to travel to far western Maryland to film in the snow, but was surprised this year when Fredericksburg had several inches of snow, which came in handy in his film. Kendzie supports local filmmakers with various programs and filmed part of his film at Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County.

The Fredericksburg Film Festival runs through Sunday, with screenings and workshops taking place at various venues across the city. Each film block typically begins with a hands-on workshop, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker, offering audiences a deeper look into the creative process.

Highlights of this year’s lineup include:

• Skategoat – A young boy dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder while escaping the grip of gang life in Venice Beach.

• 500 Fireflies – A single father and his daughter relocate and rebuild their lives in a new town.