WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Prince William County officials tonight will hold a public hearing on a proposed $912.6 million budget for 2013.
The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. at the Prince William County Government Center on Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.
The new budget includes, among other items, funding for 12 new police officers, two new arson investigators within the county fire department, five new 911 operators, upgrades to the security system at the county’s juvenile detention center, more cash for the county’s gang response team, and a new center for economic development concentrated on redeveloping the U.S. 1 corridor in eastern Prince William.
Teachers in Prince William County who have been clamoring for pay raises got work last night they would receive them, but announced they would appear at the meeting in mass to urge the Prince William County Board of Supervisors to maintain the proposed tax rate of $1.215 per $100 of the assessed property value.
“Any lowering of the tax rate will directly impact public education as the Superintendent’s current proposed budget is based on the advertised tax rate,” stated Brandie Provenzano in an email to PotomacLocal.com.
Provenazno has said teachers will organize outside the government center to urge county supervisors to approve the proposed tax rate.
Tonight’s public hearing comes as county staff in recently years has trimmed $140 million from its budget, and has passed on more retirement costs to their employees, officials said.
