Author: Uriah Kiser

MANASSAS — The average real estate tax bill is slated to increase under Manassas City Manager Patrick Pate’s proposed 2020 budget.

Pate told the City Council Monday night that increased property revenues from newly constructed homes and higher assessed property values mean the city will have $2.3 million more in its general fund to spend next year.

MANASSAS — A new Tru by Hilton hotel will be constructed with financial help from the city and state.

Manassas leaders on Tuesday agreed to back a $1.5 million gap financing deal with hotel developer Holladay Properties, which is building the $14 million project at the Landing at Cannon Branch development at the intersection of Godwin Drive and Gateway Boulevard.

STAFFORD — Stafford leaders are talking about where to best spend their money when it comes to attracting tourists to the county.

The county’s tourism office recommended extending a regional tourism partnership with neighboring jurisdictions Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County which costs each jurisdiction $171,000 annually. That’s a total of more than a half-million dollars of taxpayer money spent on marketing the Fredericksburg region as a whole.

MANASSAS — Democrats in Manassas appear to favor Mark Wolfe as the candidate to run for House of Delegates in the 50th District.

The seat is held by Lee Carter, a Democrat and the state’s first elected member of the Democratic Socialists of America activist group. Wolfe, a Republican turned Democrat announced his campaign earlier this month, more than two years after being elected to another term on the Manassas City Council.