Prince William County’s emergency dispatchers—often referred to as the “first” first responders—are being recognized for their behind-the-scenes heroism during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 14–20, 2025.
During its April 1 meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed a proclamation honoring the county’s public safety telecommunicators for their dedication to the community. Supervisor Victor Angry (Neabsco District) introduced the resolution, which Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson read aloud.
“We thank you for the voices that calm and direct us in moments of crisis,” said Chair Jefferson.
The proclamation recognizes the highly trained professionals who answer 911 calls, dispatch emergency services, and provide life-saving instructions—all while remaining calm under pressure.
Michele Surdam, who leads the Department of Public Safety Communications, accepted the proclamation alongside staff members.
“This job is not for the faint of heart,” said one of the department’s representatives. “It’s our job to bring calm to chaos.”
The proclamation highlights the essential role dispatchers play in coordinating emergency response efforts with law enforcement, fire and rescue teams, and emergency medical services.
Supervisor Yesli Vega (Coles District) echoed her appreciation during Supervisors’ Time, adding:
“Let’s not forget the human beings behind the headsets.”
This week, residents are encouraged to thank the telecommunicators who work tirelessly, often anonymously, to keep the community safe—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week was first introduced in 1981 and is observed annually during the second week of April.
Prince William County Executive Christopher Shorter recently unveiled a $2 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, sparking a heated debate among supervisors and residents over the county’s consistent budget surpluses, rising tax rates, and spending priorities.
Under his proposal, the budget maintains the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 assessed value. Yet, due to increased property assessments, the average residential tax bill will rise by $276 to $5,165.
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A waitress at Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge.
Updated 10:30 p.m. – Local restaurant owners are voicing strong opposition to Prince William County’s meals tax, which is set to generate $42 million in Fiscal Year 2025—an increase of $10 million, or 31.25%, from the previous year.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson has signaled the meals tax will be discussed during the annual budget process this spring. "It would like to see a partial repeal of the meals tax, but it truly depends on our proposed budget for the next fiscal year," Jefferson told Potomac Local News.
The meals tax, enacted in 2022, has been a consistent contention among business owners, who argue it places additional strain on their already tight profit margins. Inflation, staffing shortages, and rising costs for food, rent, and utilities have made operating a restaurant more expensive, and many owners believe the meals tax exacerbates these challenges.
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A debate over financial transparency and fiscal responsibility erupted during the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ meeting as members weighed the transfer of $31.6 million to Prince William County Schools (PWCS). The funds, representing the school division’s share of the Fiscal Year 2024 general revenue surplus, were allocated under the county’s long-standing revenue-sharing agreement.
While the measure ultimately passed, some supervisors raised concerns that the county’s revenue-sharing model does not adequately oversee how the school system spends taxpayer money.
Revenue-Sharing Model Sparks Concern
The funding transfer stems from a 1998 agreement automatically allocating a percentage of surplus general revenues—57.23% to PWCS and 42.77% to the county. This year’s surplus totaled $68.7 million, with $13.38 million set aside to maintain the county’s unassigned fund balance in compliance with the Principles of Sound Financial Management. After adjustments, the schools’ net share came to $31.6 million.
However, some supervisors have an issue with the automatic nature of the transfer. Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and accountability in the county’s school funding model.
“We fully funded the school division at the beginning of the year, and now we’re approving another massive transfer of funds,” Weir said. “This is yet another indictment of why the revenue-sharing model doesn’t work. We don’t know where the money is going, and we’re just handing out a blank check.”
Other supervisors echoed similar concerns, questioning whether the county should demand more detailed financial reporting from the school division before approving additional appropriations.
Supervisors Defend Funding as Essential Investment
Not all board members agreed that changes to the funding structure are necessary. Deshundra Jefferson, Chair At-large, defended the current model, arguing that education funding is a critical investment in the county’s future.
“Schools are what make people want to live here. They are what drive businesses to come here,” Jefferson said, emphasizing that fully funding the school division is crucial to maintaining a strong education system.
Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye added that while fiscal oversight is essential, withholding necessary school funding could have unintended consequences.
“We need to ensure our students and educators have the resources they need, while also working towards more transparency in the future,” Boddye said.
Timing of Budget Appropriations Questioned
One key concern was why the school division waited until this point in the fiscal year to request the funds.
School officials explained that they must wait until the completion of an external audit finalized in December 2024 before confirming the surplus amount. The audit process ensures that the financials are accurate and aligned with county finance department standards before allocating funds.
“We work closely with the county finance department to ensure all financials are verified before bringing them forward,” a PWCS representative explained.
Despite the concerns, the funding transfer ultimately passed in a 6-1 vote, with Supervisor Yesli Vega voting against it and Supervisor Weir abstaining.
The debate over the county’s revenue-sharing model is expected to resurface ahead of the next budget cycle, with some supervisors calling for more detailed tracking of school expenditures and earlier financial planning.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel the long-debated Route 28 Bypass Project, ending years of planning and millions of dollars in studies and design work. The decision, which passed with a 5-3 vote, came after a contentious debate over the feasibility and cost of the project.
Initially estimated to cost more than $200 million, the road would have connected with Route 28 at a signalized intersection north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. The plan to build the road, Alternative 2B, was the top recommendation from the 2017 Route 28 Corridor Feasibility Study. The project had received $89 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) as part of a broader effort to improve the county’s transportation infrastructure.
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Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson delivered her annual State of the County address during the board's organizational meeting on January 14, 2025. Jefferson reflected on the board's achievements in 2024 and outlined priorities for the coming year, emphasizing collaboration, financial stewardship, and community investment.
Achievements in 2024
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Prince William County could soon be home to a new inline hockey rink at the Hylton Boys and Girls Club in Dale City, following an in-depth discussion by the Board of County Supervisors during their December 17, 2024, meeting. The facility results from a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club, Prince William Ice Center, the Washington Capitals, and George Mason University.
Seth Hendler-Voss, the county’s Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced the project, describing it as “an exciting partnership opportunity to bring a new recreation amenity to Prince William County.” He outlined the proposed location and the collaboration required to make the rink a reality.
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We’re back with another episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, where we connect our communities one story at a time. In this episode, Uriah Kiser, founder of Potomac Local News, sits down with Deshundra Jefferson, Chair At-large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, to discuss critical issues facing Prince William County.
Chair Jefferson made history on January 1, 2024, as the first Black person elected to this role. Her journey—from a single mother saving for homeownership to a community leader—informs her commitment to tackling the affordable housing crisis, workforce housing solutions, and planning for future infrastructure needs.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The proposed Affordable Housing Dwelling Unit Ordinance and its impact on residents and local workers like teachers, police, and firefighters.
- Balancing affordable housing with school capacity concerns and infrastructure development in growing areas like Brentsville.
- The ongoing debate over the Bi-County Parkway extension to ease congestion on Route 28.
- Chair Jefferson’s favorite local restaurants—from the western side of the county to the east.
Jefferson also shares her vision for ensuring Prince William County residents can live where they work. This focus prioritizes local families and community safety: “We have cost-burdened households spending more than 30% of their income on housing. We need solutions now, said Chair Deshundra Jefferson
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Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair, at-large Deshundra Jefferson, is on the mend after having had surgery for Crohn’s disease. This chronic inflammatory bowel condition has affected her health over the past two years.
Now two weeks post-surgery, Jefferson reports feeling “pretty good” and looks forward to resuming her duties full-time, including attending Zoom meetings and tackling a backlog of emails next week. Despite her temporary absence, Jefferson is grateful for her colleagues, especially Supervisor Boddye, who stepped up in her absence, as well as her staff, friends, and supportive 16-year-old son. “These things are kind of frightening until you actually go through them,” she shared, noting the relief of finally addressing symptoms that had worsened over the past few months.
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While a regional sports facility is not out of the question, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson says she's open to other options.
"I want to see what ideas are out there," Jefferson said. "An indoor sports facility would be nice to have. Lots of nonprofits and youth sports would like to have access to something like that."
