Dozens of Stafford County residents packed the chambers Tuesday night during a special-called meeting of the Board of Supervisors to weigh in on the proposed $1.015 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget — and the tax increase that may come with it.
The meeting featured a detailed budget presentation by Chief Financial Officer Andrea Light, followed by a public hearing where residents delivered emotional appeals both for and against the proposed increase in the county’s real estate tax rate.
As Stafford County continues to experience rapid population growth, school officials are moving forward with plans to open two new elementary schools—ES18 and ES19—in Fall 2026. These additions aim to relieve overcrowding in existing schools and are central to the school division’s redistricting plans under Scenario Green, which is currently under public review.
The Stafford County School Board recently reviewed projections showing both ES18 and ES19 will open at 95% capacity. The redistricting scenario ensures no elementary school will exceed 100% capacity in the first year of implementation. By 2030, only three schools are projected to be over capacity.
Prince William County
Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announced the successful prosecution of Bryan Hernandez Diaz and Jaime Garcia Mendoza following a gang-related assault on July 24, 2023, at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center in Manassas.
Dominion Energy is preparing to launch a significant infrastructure upgrade along a key electrical transmission corridor stretching from Fredericksburg to Possum Point in Prince William County.
The project, known as the Fredericksburg-Possum Point 230 kV Electric Transmission Upgrade and Rebuild, aims to replace aging equipment and bolster grid reliability as regional electricity demand grows. The existing infrastructure has served the area for more than five decades and is reaching the end of its service life.
A paraprofessional at Conway Elementary School was arrested following an investigation into inappropriate conduct involving students, according to information from the Stafford Sheriff’s Office posted on March 20, 2025.
The sheriff reports that the investigation began on March 18 after a student alerted school officials that a male staff member was misbehaving toward a female student. A School Resource Officer immediately began an investigation, and the case was referred to detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Interstate 95: Northbound & Southbound
I-95 Southbound at Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway)
Two immature bald eagles found in Stafford County had to be euthanized after suffering severe neurological symptoms caused by pentobarbital poisoning, a drug commonly used to euthanize animals.
According to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, the birds were brought in a few weeks ago, exhibiting alarming signs of neurological distress that worsened within hours. Despite efforts to treat them, both birds became wholly unresponsive and were humanely euthanized.
Fatal Hit-and-Run on Richmond Highway
A 53-year-old man was killed Wednesday night in a hit-and-run crash on Richmond Highway near Easy Street.
