FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Downtown Fredericksburg stands at a financial and commercial turning point. While city leaders report modest gains in key revenue streams like meals and sales taxes, local businesses are facing mounting pressure from rising commercial rents, fewer customers, and growing uncertainty.

At a June 10, 2025, City Council meeting, Finance Director Amanda Sicks reported that meals tax collections are up 4.6% compared to the prior year, and sales tax is flat but stable.

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To increase the city's bike-ability and promote a “connected communities” concept, officials and residents gathered at the south end of Caroline Street on May 29 in Fredericksburg to discuss creating a Dixon Park Connector trail.

After the maps were set up and the attendees had a chance to look at the city plan, two sides of the issue emerged involving parking, homeless camps, rideability, and traffic.

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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Fredericksburg’s multi-year upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant continues to move forward, with city officials reporting steady progress on financing and construction—and more than $105 million in grants secured to ease the burden on local taxpayers.

At a May 27 City Council work session, members reviewed the project’s timeline, scope, and estimated $185.6 million total cost.

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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The City Council is in the final stages of selecting members for a special committee that will plan Fredericksburg’s 300th anniversary in 2028.

During a May 27 work session, council members reviewed a list of 25 candidates to serve on the “Fredericksburg 300 Committee.” The goal is to reduce that list to about 10 people who will lead efforts to celebrate the city’s tricentennial.

The committee will be central in organizing year-long festivities highlighting Fredericksburg’s rich history and future direction. It is also expected to support commemorations tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.

Mayor Kerry Devine shared that she had already narrowed down her preferred list of committee members and invited other council members to call her on Thursday evening with their rankings. Members agreed to reconvene informally by phone on Friday to finalize the roster.

However, the city has not announced or published a meeting notice for Friday on its website, leaving the public without a way to observe or listen to the council’s deliberations.

In Virginia, the state’s open meetings law generally requires that deliberations among elected officials on public business be accessible to the public when a quorum is involved. Council members did not clarify how their informal phone discussions would comply with these requirements during the work session.

Fredericksburg’s plans for its 300th anniversary are already generating excitement among historians, civic leaders, and residents. In a recent episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Fredericksburg Area Museum Executive Director Sam McKelvey said the city’s dual milestones in 2026 and 2028 will offer an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on Fredericksburg’s role in shaping the nation.

“We’re looking at multi-year commemorations that engage the entire region,” McKelvey said. “From Revolutionary War to Civil War history, Fredericksburg has always played a central role in American identity.”

The museum is preparing special exhibits, including the display of a recently recovered 19th-century bateau found in the Rappahannock River. McKelvey said the committee’s work will help coordinate exhibits, festivals, and community events across multiple years.

The Fredericksburg Area Museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Wednesdays. Admission is free.

Council members emphasized the need to move quickly so the committee can begin its work. However, several expressed concern that not all nominees had been contacted to confirm their willingness to serve. The final list is expected to be shared internally this week and could be announced at a future public meeting.

As Fredericksburg city officials weigh budget cuts, tax increases, and federal funding uncertainties, one possible source of future financial relief came up during a joint City Council and School Board budget work session: a data center under development in Celebrate Virginia South.

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A new agreement between the City of Fredericksburg and its public school system will open school gymnasiums and facilities to the public, expanding access to recreation programs for children, teens, and families.

On Tuesday night, City Council unanimously approved a shared-use agreement with Fredericksburg City Public Schools that gives the Parks, Recreation, and Events Department expanded access to school buildings, including the former Walker-Grant School, now Gladys West Elementary.

The agreement allows the city to use the facility from 4 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and weekends for programs ranging from youth athletics to teen engagement initiatives.

“This really opens up an opportunity for us to expand our programming—not only to take care of existing needs and waitlists, but also to reach different audiences, such as teens and after-school activities,” said Todd Brown, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Events.

Brown first floated the idea a year ago when speaking with city leaders. “If I just had a gym, I could do programming from 5 a.m. to midnight,” Brown said, echoing his conversation with Councilor Jannan Holmes.

Mayor Kerry P. Devine praised the agreement, calling it a “great shared use of space” that will put underutilized facilities to work during non-school hours. “It allows the facility to be used more extensively by the public in the after-school hours,” she said. “Our goal is to make sure our teens are occupied in productive ways.”

Councilor Jonathan A. Gerlach reflected on his experience with summer basketball programs and stressed how important they can be in shaping young lives. “Some of us got scholarships to play ball in college. Who knows if we would’ve gotten those opportunities without a summer program?” he said.

Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. connected the agreement to broader budget concerns. “We’re making moves in the city to take care of what we need to do right now,” he said. “It shows the point that we still need a recreation facility, but this agreement helps bridge the gap.”

Councilors applauded the collaboration between the city and the school division, noting that sharing facilities is a smart way to maximize taxpayer investment without building new infrastructure.

The new Gladys West Elementary School will replace the aging Walker-Grant building as part of a facilities realignment in the city. With younger students not using the gymnasium space in the evenings, the city will now use it to benefit the broader community.

“This is a win-win for Fredericksburg,” said Holmes. “It gives our residents access to more resources and shows what’s possible when departments work together.”

Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody presented the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget proposal to the City Council on March 11. The proposal outline a $136.75 million spending plan to strengthen public schools, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure long-term financial stability.

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Fredericksburg is set to enhance public safety by acquiring a vehicle barrier system to protect attendees at outdoor events from potential vehicle-borne attacks. The measure will be voted on at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, following the acceptance of a $250,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) through the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP).

The barrier system is intended to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering pedestrian areas during significant community events, including the Downtown Christmas Parade, Festival of the Streets on July 4th, the Farmers Market, and FXBG Pride.

Funding for Public Safety Enhancements
The grant will cover the full cost of the vehicle barrier system, ensuring no financial burden on the city’s budget. Additionally, the city has been awarded $57,900 to support its Hazardous Materials Team by funding the purchase of new equipment and training to improve emergency response capabilities.

According to a memorandum from Fire Chief Mike Jones and Finance Director Amanda Six, the grant will allow Fredericksburg to “better respond to potential threats in our community.”

Additional Grant for HazMat Equipment
In addition to the funding for vehicle barriers, Fredericksburg has also been awarded $57,900 to enhance its Hazardous Materials Team. The funds will be used to purchase new equipment and train emergency personnel to better respond to potential chemical, biological, and other hazardous threats.

The Fredericksburg Planning Commission rejected a proposal to create a Technology Overlay District (TOD) allowing data centers in Celebrate Virginia South in a 4-3 vote on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. The decision follows growing concerns over transparency, environmental impact, and infrastructure readiness. Councilman Will Mackintosh, speaking on Town Talk on News Talk 1230 WFVA earlier this month, had championed the proposal, calling it a transformative opportunity for the city, potentially generating $60 million annually in tax revenue. “We wanted to set the rules ahead of time so that developers know what’s expected,” McIntosh said. “This is a chance to fund schools, infrastructure, and hold the line on property taxes.” Despite financial benefits, residents and commissioners raised concerns over water use, noise, and transparency. Former City Council member Matt Kelly criticized the process, stating, "We still don’t have key details on energy and water agreements, yet we’re being rushed into a decision." With the Planning Commission's rejection, the City Council will now decide the district’s fate in a public hearing on February 25. They can either approve the TOD or follow the commission’s recommendation to require Special Use Permits (SUPs) for future data centers, allowing for case-by-case approval.

Mackintosh outlined the city’s long-term planning efforts, which date back to 2018 when Fredericksburg began setting tax rates and policies to align with neighboring jurisdictions. With Northern Virginia running out of space, developers have turned their attention south, making Fredericksburg a prime target for new data center development.

Officials have proposed a Technology Overlay District—a designated 250-acre area in Celebrate Virginia South, near Wegmans and the Fredericksburg Nationals stadium to ensure that data centers fit within the city's framework. This district will allow data centers by right if they meet strict environmental and design regulations.

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On Wednesday night, the Fredericksburg Planning Commission voted 4-3 to reject a proposed Technology Overlay District (TOD) that would have allowed data centers and technology-focused development in Celebrate Virginia South, near the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium. The motion to approve the district failed by a 4-3 vote, and a second motion recommending that the City Council require Special Use Permits (SUPs) for data centers instead passed by the same margin.

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