PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – 
For the final time in the fiscal year 2026 budget season, the Prince William Board of Supervisors debated the merits of the revenue-sharing agreement (RSA) it has with Prince William County Schools (PWCS), again.
Before 1998 — when the RSA was established between the supervisors and the School Board — the two bodies had an unofficial agreement where PWCS received 51% of the county's revenue and the county received the other 49%.
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OCCOQUAN, Va. — A series of notable developments unfolded at the April 15, 2025, Occoquan Town Council meeting, including a leadership change and updates to the town’s ongoing budget planning.
Councilwoman Nancy Freeborn Britain, who was elected to the Town Council in 2022, formally announced her resignation, citing a new career opportunity that will take her to Staunton during the workweek. Britain was recently hired as the Program Director for a master’s degree program at Mary Baldwin University, where she will oversee 120 students and serve as a department chair.
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MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Manassas Park homeowners could see their tax bills rise by hundreds of dollars under the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, despite a planned reduction in the city's real estate tax rate.
City Manager Carl Cole presented the $129 million budget to the Governing Body on April 22, 2025, proposing a one-cent reduction to the real estate tax rate, which would lower it to $1.395 per $100 of assessed value. However, because the average assessed value of residential properties increased by 7.48%, the typical single-family homeowner, with an average home value of $507,689, would still pay approximately $483 more in real estate taxes next year.
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STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – Stafford County homeowners will see a higher real estate tax rate this year — $0.9236 per $100 of assessed value — as the Board of Supervisors adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on April 15. Although the tax rate is three cents higher than last year, it remains two cents lower than the original proposal by the County Administrator.
By comparison, neighboring Prince William County, with four times Stafford’s population, lowered its real estate tax rate to $0.906 per $100. Despite the rate cut, higher home values in Prince William mean its homeowners will still pay more. The average tax bill in Prince William is $5,162, based on a typical home value of $569,772. In Stafford, the average homeowner will pay $4,069 on a home valued at $434,400.
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At the April 15 meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors made its final changes to the fiscal year 2026 budget and tax rates.
The Board, after fruitful discussion and back-and-forth, reduced the real estate tax rate to $0.906 per $100 of assessed value from the county executive's proposed rate of 92 cents in February.
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Ahead of fiscal year 2025, Ashworth similarly requested more staff members despite the Board being reluctant to fund additional positions. In response, Ashworth sent a letter to the Board stating she would withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges if the Board didn't approve her request.
“The bottom line is that this office was not properly staffed and funded for decades as the County grew up around us,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local in April 2024.
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A push by Councilmember Sonia Vasquez Luna to raise the business computer equipment tax rate met resistance Monday night, as the Manassas City Council instead chose to maintain the current rate of $2.15 per $100 of assessed value.
Vasquez Luna proposed aligning the computer equipment tax, data center tax, and personal property tax (vehicles) at a uniform $3.50 rate, saying it would offer consistency and potentially allow the city to reduce the tax burden on vehicle owners.
“For me, it will be $3.50 for each one of them,” Vasquez Luna said. “And it’s an opportunity to lower the [rate] for personal property.”
But several council members pushed back, expressing concern that such an increase would disproportionately hurt small business owners.
“I’d like to keep the computer tax at $2.15,” said Councilmember Teresa Coates Ellis. “It sends a bad message to small businesses.”
Councilmember Ashley Hutson agreed, noting that large institutions like Lockheed Martin and Micron may be impacted, but so would local startups without a threshold to shield smaller firms.
Ultimately, the council chose to keep the computer equipment tax rate at $2.15 while raising the data center tax rate to $3.60 and keeping the vehicle tax at $3.60. Staff may revisit adding a threshold in future budget cycles, taxing only businesses with a certain minimum amount of computer equipment.
Budget Conversations Continue
The computer tax debate was part of a broader discussion on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, with the Council needing to approve maximum advertised rates before public hearings.
Among other key items:
Commercial & Industrial Tax Under Review
The council heard a presentation on a potential 12.5-cent Commercial and Industrial (C&I) property tax that could fund new road construction or transit routes. The measure could help Manassas qualify for additional Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) funding, but the council opted to delay consideration until future fiscal years.
Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled
Council members signaled support for raising the income eligibility threshold to $60,000 for senior and disabled residents seeking real estate tax relief. That change will be implemented through a separate ordinance in FY 2027.
Utility Rates May Rise
Staff recommended an 8.5% increase to water, sewer, and electric rates, citing rising operating costs and the need to maintain the city’s AAA bond rating. Some members, including Vasquez Luna, objected to the size of the increase and called for more analysis of capital spending.
The council will revisit the utility rate issue at its April 7 work session, where utility staff will be present to answer questions. A more minor 5% increase is under consideration as a potential compromise.
To stay on schedule, the city must advertise all maximum tax and utility rates by April 11, ahead of formal budget adoption later this spring.
While most of the budget remains unchanged from the initial presentation on Feb. 25, MCPS received clarity from the state — which provides 50% of the funding for the budget — on how much it would receive.
According to Taft Kelly, MCPS' director of finance, said an additional $330,000 would be given to the district. But, Kelly warned that Gov. Glenn Youngkin's budget has not yet been approved and likely won't be until April or May.
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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.
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On Tuesday, Manassas Park City Schools presented the governing body with a $64.8 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The budget outlines key priorities to improve academic performance, boost teacher compensation, and expand student wellness and mental health services.
Superintendent Dr. Melissa Saunders and Finance Director Mr. Lyon led the presentation, which showcased the division’s efforts to balance rising costs with a continued decline in student enrollment.
“This budget reflects our commitment to reimagining the school experience, supporting our staff, and ensuring our students are safe and supported every day,” said Saunders.
Key Budget Priorities
The FY26 budget, approved by the School Board on March 3, is structured around four major priorities:
- Literacy and Math Improvement: Expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act compliance to middle school grades and the addition of 43 English Language Learner (ELL) teaching positions to meet updated state mandates. The school division’s ELL population now makes up 45% of the student body, compared to the state average of 12%.
- Staff Compensation and Benefits: Teachers and classified staff will receive an average 5.2% raise, including a 2% step and 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Managerial staff will receive a 4.2% average increase. The top pay scale staff will receive a $1,000 supplement. The budget also includes six weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment and increases paid time off to 15 days annually.
- Student Support Services: The budget adds a school counselor, a Dean of Students at the high school, and front office staff to assist with increased call volume. It maintains three attendance specialists and extends the use of Care Solace, a 24/7 multilingual mental health care referral service for students, families, and staff. Free breakfast and lunch for all students will continue.
- Sustainability: The division will draw $872,078 from the City’s School Reserve Fund to help cover salary obligations. That fund, created in 2023, is intended to stabilize school funding as enrollment declines and staff costs rise.
Student Enrollment Declining, Needs Increasing
Enrollment is projected to dip slightly to 3,372 students next year, down from 3,624 in 2020. At the same time, student needs have increased significantly:
- 55% of students are economically disadvantaged
- 15% receive special education services
- 45% are English Language Learners
Saunders noted that while enrollment declines, the staffing demands grow due to state requirements for lower student-teacher ratios in high-need populations.
Long-Term Forecast Raises Concerns
A five-year budget forecast included in the presentation shows rising shortfalls beginning in FY27, with a projected $4.7 million gap by FY30. The FY30 projection also includes a placeholder $36 million investment in a potential Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing at the high school.
Despite the looming financial challenges, school leaders emphasized that the FY26 budget reflects careful planning and a “needs-based, zero-based” development process.
Capital Projects and Other Highlights
The FY26 capital budget includes $2.1 million in school infrastructure upgrades, including bus replacements, generator installations, lighting and flooring improvements, and front entrance safety upgrades.
The budget also maintains free meals for all students, funded through the division’s food services fund.
What’s Next
The School Board’s approved budget will now be incorporated into the City of Manassas Park’s overall FY26 budget. No formal action by the Governing Body was required during the March 18 meeting.
“We’re proud of the work being done in our schools and believe this budget reflects our community’s values,” said Saunders.
Editor’s note: View the full budget presentation.
