MANASSAS — A three-year city and school funding plan which includes an estimated tax rate increase of nine cents is on the table for the full council to vote on.
The plan includes an increase of the city allocation to Manassas City public schools of 2.625% annually over the next three years. The cost is estimated at roughly three cents added to the tax rate per year for three years, which is a total of nine cents once fully implemented.
DUMFRIES — Dumfries leaders welcomed residents into their new town hall.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new building at 17739 Main Street, which is located next to the old town hall building that also contains the Jeff Simpson Community Center. The town owns both buildings and, for the first time, is a landlord renting space to multiple non-profit organizations co-located with it inside the new town hall, to include the Greater Prince William Community Health Center.
STAFFORD — Stafford County was founded in 1664. It is rich with the history of the Patawomeck tribe, revolutionary figures, civil war battles, and much more. However, despite a deep historical background, Stafford County does not have a museum.
In a document county officials refer as a 2040 Vision and Strategic Plan, the Board of Supervisors has expressed the desire to start planning and building a Stafford County Museum and Cultural Center.
STAFFORD — There are new delays in Stafford County’s effort to expand bike and walking trails in the county.
Leaders late last month once again approved an extension to allow staff to prolong to February 19 the study period for the planned bike and pedestrian trails throughout Stafford.
WOODBRIDGE — Designs for a new animal shelter in Prince William County will be completed next month.
County Public Works Director Thomas Bruun told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that if all goes to plan, the project will be put out to bid early next year and construction could begin as early as June. It should take about two years to build the shelter that is anticipated to cost about $14 million.
HAYMARKET — With the Haymarket Town Council’s 5-1 decision to rezone 9.94 acres from business commercial to “Residential Moderate Density” land use designation, schools in the Gainesville District will become increasingly more crowded.
“We don’t run the schools,” said Haymarket Vice Mayor Susan Edwards just before voting in support of a rezoning request that would allow 79 new townhomes to be built in Haymarket.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — On the heels of the announcement that Amazon will be locating its new HQ2 in Arlington, George Mason University announced that their Science and Technology Campus will double in size over the next five years.
“The university has grown considerably in recent years, adding approximately 1000 additional students year over year. Today, our student body includes over 37,000 individuals. Enrollment is projected to grow to 43,000 students by 2024. Student enrollment in STEM programs is growing faster than most. Our SciTech campus facilities are essential to meet the needs of this growing student body,” Dr. Deborah Crawford, George Mason’s vice president for research said in an email.
DUMFRIES — Dumfries has a new look.
On Nov. 20 the town council held its first meeting in the new building in which they finalized the design of a new town logo.
