Caitlyn Meisner, Author at Potomac Local News

Meet Prince William: Q+A with Steve Austin, Criminal Justice Services Director

Published May 14, 2025 at 9:00AM

Welcome back to a Potomac Local News series, “Meet Prince William.”

We’ve started this series so Prince William County residents can get to know the important people working behind the scenes to make the county run smoothly and efficiently. This is an opportunity to learn from experts on the county. Potomac Local has asked each leader the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

News

Prince William Water Accepting Applications for 2025 Water Academy

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 12, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated May 13, 2025 at 3:34PM

Past participants of the Water Academy at a demonstration. [Courtesy photo]

The Academy, which started in 2017, hopes to educate Prince William County adults about “their water utility, water and wastewater infrastructure and treatment, and our shared role in environmental stewardship,” Rebecca Wadman, the organization’s education and outreach coordinator, said.

Wadman said the Academy tries to provide adults and high school and college students in the area with an understanding of how water is provided and can spread the information with loved ones.

News

Prince William Fire Crews Awarded ‘Green Cross’ in 2 Life-Saving Situations

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 8, 2025 at 1:00PM

Members of the Prince William Fire & Rescue Department's Fire Station 22 award with the Green Cross. [Photo courtesy of PWC Fire on Facebook]

The Green Cross is awarded by Hurst Jaws of Life, which aims to celebrate “the bravery shown by rescue teams worldwide,” according to the company’s website. Crews from Rescue Unit 522 and Trucks 504 and 511 were given the award.

The first incident occurred on Sudley Road and Lee Highway, where a box truck crashed into a tree. According to the department’s Facebook post, the driver was pinned from the waist down and impaled, and it took 40 minutes to rescue him.

News

Don’t Miss These Concerts and Events at Harris Pavilion

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 6, 2025 at 3:00PM

The Harris Pavilion will host dozens of events this summer. [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

The city is kicking off the first of its Summer Concert Series on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the Shane Gamble Duo. But this isn’t the only Tuesday concert.

Manassas is hosting an “Acoustic Tuesday” concert each week at 7 p.m. until Sept. 9, along with “Fresh Music Fridays,” “Saturday Night Concert Series” and “Sunday Funday Concerts.”

Manassas

Events Around Prince William, Manassas in May

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 1, 2025 at 11:00AM

[AXP Photography via Pexels]

Thursday (May 1)

Friday (May 2)

News

A Board Divided: Prince William Supervisors Continue to Clash Over School Revenue Agreement

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 29, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated April 29, 2025 at 11:56AM

Before 1998 — when the RSA was established between the supervisors and the School Board — the two bodies had an unofficial agreement where PWCS received 51% of the county’s revenue and the county received the other 49%.

In 1998, the bodies came to an official agreement that allocated nearly 57% of the county’s revenue to PWCS, with 43% left for the county’s operations. In 2013, the RSA was amended to increase PWCS’ allocation to over 57% and the county’s to just under 43%.

News

Prince William Supervisors Approve Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, Tax Rates

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 23, 2025 at 1:00PM

Supervisor Bob Weir at the April 22 Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved its fiscal year 2026 budget and tax rates on Tuesday night, often along party lines.

Supervisor Bob Weir, a Republican, was among the most vocal at Tuesday’s meeting, stating his opposition to nearly everything on the docket from the real estate tax rate, the fire levy and the amount going to Prince William County Schools (PWCS).

News

Stewards of the Park System: Meet Prince William Forest Park’s Camp Hosts

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 23, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated April 23, 2025 at 2:56PM

Laurel and Mike Hinrichsen have been camp hosts for nearly a year. [Courtesy photo]

“Being in a national park is peaceful even when you’re working. It’s peaceful, refreshing and invigorating,” Laurel said.

The couple, who had been living in North Dakota before their move, considered other parks in the DMV, but leaped at the opportunity to live at the park’s Oak Ridge Campground. As lifelong outdoors people, Laurel and Mike said they were excited to learn something new.

News

Supervisors Reduce Real Estate Tax Rate Ahead of Tuesday Night Vote

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 22, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated April 25, 2025 at 6:16PM

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors during the April 15, 2025, budget markup session.

At the April 15 meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors made its final changes to the fiscal year 2026 budget and tax rates.

The Board, after fruitful discussion and back-and-forth, reduced the real estate tax rate to $0.906 per $100 of assessed value from the county executive’s proposed rate of 92 cents in February.

News

Ashworth Asks for More Staff as Supervisors Look to Approve Budget

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 21, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated April 22, 2025 at 8:41AM

[KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA via Pexels]

Ahead of fiscal year 2025, Ashworth similarly requested more staff members despite the Board being reluctant to fund additional positions. In response, Ashworth sent a letter to the Board stating she would withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges if the Board didn’t approve her request.

“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 in April 2024.