Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Proposed Manassas budget increases tax bills, funding for schools

Published April 25, 2015 at 11:29AM | Updated April 25, 2015 at 10:32PM

[Photo: City of Manassas]

Homeowners in Manassas should expect their average tax bills to go up next year under a proposed city budget.

Under a plan from City Manager Patrick Pate, the total average tax bill increase is $164. Townhome owners’ property tax bills would average $2,780, condo owners would pay an average bill of $2,342, and single family home owners would pay an average bill of $4,493.

News

FedEx shipping facility near Gainesville to open by Christmas

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 24, 2015 at 4:03PM

The new 168,000-square foot shipping hub under construction is now under construction and will be located at 7303 Cushing Road, just off Balls Ford Road and Interstate 66 near Gainesville.

When completed, standing at 35 feet tall, the center will represent a win for county economic development officials who have courted several logistics companies in an effort to lure them to the region.

News

Woodbridge is getting a boardwalk

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 23, 2015 at 2:51PM

A new boardwalk is poised to take shape along Neabsco Creek in Woodbridge.

Officials plan to build phase one of a 3,000-foot long, 10-foot wide boardwalk in the Julie Metz Wetlands near where the Neabsco Creek meets the Potomac River. The walkway will be a part of the larger 830-mile Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail that will run from Pittsburgh to the Northern Neck Peninsula of Virginia.

News

Budget not as bleak as feared for Prince William / Manassas tourism agency

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 23, 2015 at 12:31PM

The budget picture is not as bad as was feared for the agency that promotes Prince William County and Manassas to tourists and travel writers.

Prince William officials passed a new $1 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2016 that takes effect July 1. Discover Prince William / Manassas (formerly the convention and visitors bureau) gets about $1 million from the county to operate next year. That money will be used mostly for salaries to pay those who give tours to travel writers who pen stories about why our area is such a great place to visit, hold events to talk up the region, and oversee the day to day operation of the agency.

News

Nohe, O’Meara talk taxes, and why Route 28 stinks

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 15, 2015 at 12:01PM

Paul O’Meara talked about lowering the tax burden for Prince William County residents.

His incumbent opponent Marty Nohe talked about the importance of spending county tax dollars on the things residents want in their community.

News

Virginia’s top schools chief says the classroom hasn’t changed much in 100 years

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 15, 2015 at 9:06AM

Holton

Anne Holton on Tuesday praised initiatives like Manassas Park’s eBackpack program that puts tablet computers in the hands of students.

Holton, who is Virginia’s secretary of education and wife of Senator Timothy Kaine, said this effort also known as “flipping the classroom” is giving students a new way to learn.

News

Crash witness: ‘I thought he was gonna hit me’

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 14, 2015 at 1:54PM

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An overturned car on Prince William Parkway caught the eye of drivers Tuesday.

News

Stewart, Crawford don’t see eye to eye on jobs, taxes in Prince William

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 13, 2015 at 10:53AM

Two Republicans seeking to lead the Prince William County Board of Supervisors sat down for a debate on Saturday.

Incumbent Corey Stewart faced newcomer Chris Crawford, and each discussed issues facing the county from tax bills, funding firefighters, to bringing new jobs to the region.

Publisher's Post

How reading the ads clues me in to all the fun stuff going on

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 12, 2015 at 7:00AM

Kiser

When I travel to a new city, the first thing I do is listen to the radio stations. I’ve probably heard nearly every song before, but the commercials are all new to me.

When I check in to my hotel, after marveling at the view (if I’m lucky enough to have a view), I turn on the local TV station. If I can find one, I grab a local newspaper.

News

Will tourism still be a priority for Prince William County, Manassas?

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 10, 2015 at 5:28PM

Discover Prince William/Manassas promotes the County and Manassas City as a destination for family vacations and those who are looking to connect with history. A total of $505 million is spent each year in the county and $65 million in the city by tourists visiting the region, according to agency director Ann Marie Maher. The tourism industry created more than 6,000 jobs in the region, she added.

Despite the numbers, as well as several factors like the opening of two new hotels, the continued development of Potomac Shores as a destination, and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the agency expects a budget shortfall of about $370,000 next year. The agency would operate on a $1 million budget.