Opinion

On behalf of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and its 1,200+ Members, we strongly encourage you not to support advertising the “tech tax” from $1.35 to $1.60, or a massive 18% increase.

We have attracted and grown an industry that accounts for 94% of all investment in the County. Even as other states and localities in Virginia and elsewhere are seeking to grow their data center and technology-based business investment, Prince William County is seeking to increase the tax burden on a key industry driving our economy.

On Tuesday evening, the Board of Supervisors will set the advertised tax rates for the 2022 Fiscal Year. Among them will be the residential tax rate.

Currently on the table is a proposal by the County Executive that would not increase the tax rate, but because of increases in home value assessments set by the County, would result in an average residential tax increase of $306 over last year’s bill, and $328 with the residential Fire Levy.

The principals and staff at Forest Park High School near Dumfries are ready to welcome children back to the classroom, said Richard Martinez, the school’s principal.

Martinez briefed the county School Board during its meeting on Feb. 17, 2021. Here’s what he said.

Jim Giragosian, a 28 year resident of the Gainesville District in Prince William County and Falun Gong practitioner, spoke to the Board of County Supervisors on Feb. 16, 2021, about atrocities happening to those who practice the religion in China.

In communities across the country and around the world, we are seeing unprecedented calls for justice for all people. Not just for a single race or single ethnicity, or a single sexual orientation, but for everyone.

Prince William Education Association President Maggie Hansford spoke before the Prince William County School Board on February 8 to push for raises for school employees.

I just want to start off by making Dr. Walts for making educators a priority in this year’s budget.

Tim Parrish, Prince William County GOP Committee chairman, spoke to the Board of County Supervisors during its meeting on Feb. 16, 2021, and urged County Executive Christopher Martino to table talk of enacting a new meals tax that would be paid by people who dine at county restaurants.

I’m here tonight to talk about this tax proposal coming down the pipeline.

We’ve been in close contact with Brett Gloss and other plaintiffs who filed the Freedom of Information Act legal complaint against the Prince William Board of County Supervisors Democratic majority regarding the Dems’ May 31 meeting that excluded the three Republican supervisors.

We are writing this message with the plaintiffs’ knowledge and support.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is scheduled to approve a project agreement that will advance Alignment 2B for a Route 28 Bypass at their meeting on October 8.

“Our coalition of conservation, smart growth, and transportation reform groups is calling on the NVTA to delay action because of the negative environmental, regional travel, and community impacts of the proposed Alignment 2B and because of significant procedural failings that must be addressed,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.