The pilot funding request was approved unanimously by the MCPS School Board on May 13 and needed to be formally approved by City Council. The Board requested $2 million from its fund balance be used to get the program off the ground.
Council's approval of this funding went hand-in-hand with its approval of the Board's purchase of 8700 Centreville Road, where the program would be housed along with the district's Central Office staff and operations.
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Manassas City Council approved the purchase of 8700 Centreville Road, the Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) headquarters, for $10.7 million in a 6-1 vote on July 28.
MCPS has leased parts of the space for more than 10 years, but began entertaining conversations regarding a purchase in 2022. MCPS was considering renovating the former police station at 9518 Fairview Ave., which was estimated to cost upwards of $11 million. It also considered leasing a new space entirely or continuing its current lease.
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MANASSAS, Va. â Manassas Councilwoman Theresa Coates-Ellis says she was âsurprisedâ and âfrustratedâ by a recent proposal to more than double the salaries of the cityâs mayor and council membersâan idea that drew heavy criticism from residents and prompted the council to delay a final vote until September.
In her latest episode of The Buzz with Teresa, the councilwoman devoted a significant portion of her update to the contentious topic. âIt just popped up on the agenda,â she said. âWe hadnât had a lot of discussion about this... and that was my biggest problem with it.â
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MANASSAS, Va. â Following a contentious public hearing and rising backlash from residents, the Manassas City Council voted Monday night to delay a final decision on a proposal that would more than double the salaries of the mayor and council members. A vote is now set for September 8.
But the most notable update came today, Tuesday, when Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger released a public statement on Facebook opposing the proposed raise to the mayorâs salaryâher own.
âAlthough the Mayor does not have a vote on financial matters, I am against these increases,â Davis-Younger wrote. âOur cityâs council is already among the highest-paid in the region by population, and I do not feel itâs justified to increase it by over 100% at this moment.â
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The city was requesting approval to rezone the Manor â which was built in the early 1890s as a summer residence for Robert Portner in the Neo-Classical Revival style â to add a historic overlay district.
"The purpose of a historical overlay district is to provide an additional layer of protection to properties with historic and/or architectural significance," Benjamin Walker, a planner with the city, said at the meeting. "[This ensures] that any exterior work or treatment is historically appropriate and does not diminish a property's integrity."
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MANASSAS, Va. â On Monday, July 14, the Manassas City Council is expected to vote on transferring $725,000 from its capital reserves to the cityâs Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the purchase of another property behind the Manassas Shopping Center.
If approved, the transfer would fund the EDAâs second acquisition this year from J.E. Rice, Inc., for land on Portner Avenue. The pending deal comes as part of a years-long land acquisition strategy that city officials say supports redevelopment and public services, but one that has drawn increasing criticism for its lack of transparency.
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During a June 16, 2025, City Council work session, members reviewed draft guidelines that would formally enable the city to consider proposals under Virginiaâs Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act. The move is seen as key to advancing the stalled transformation of the 9400 block of Main Street, where the city has acquired several key parcels but has yet to break ground on new development.
City Manager Steve Burke told the council the guidelines provide flexibility for developers to work with the city on projects that involve publicly owned land or infrastructureâespecially the anticipated parking garage and municipal annex.
âThis gives the development community more tools to bring creative solutions to the table,â said Burke. âItâs not a requirement, but it creates options that didnât exist before.â
The City Council is expected to vote on the adoption of the P3 guidelines at its June 23, 2025, regular meeting.
The initiative centers on three properties:
- The former Olde Towne Inn, purchased by the cityâs Economic Development Authority in February 2023 for $5.75 million
- The Manassas Ice and Fuel Company (MIFCO) site, acquired in January 2025 for $3.1 million
- An adjacent city-owned parking lot
In October 2023, the city demolished the aging Olde Towne Inn building, and in the months since, it has converted the lot into a temporary public parking area to support downtown businesses.
Last fall, the city unveiled plans for a 110-room Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel, featuring a rooftop bar and ground-floor retail. However, progress has stalled, in part due to a lack of structured parking to support hotel guests and other anticipated users.
In April, the city announced it had secured a $700,000 state grant to help clean up petroleum-contaminated soil at the MIFCO site to prepare it for a multi-level parking garage.
The newly proposed P3 guidelines are intended to invite proposals that would allow developers to integrate public and private usesâsuch as building and managing a hotel, leasing parking spaces, or redeveloping civic facilitiesâall while ensuring the city retains public benefit and long-term control over key assets.
During the work session, Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis called the document âwell done,â and emphasized the importance of protecting the long-term vision of downtown for future councils.
Councilman Tom Osina asked whether a P3 model could enable the city to maintain ownership of the parking garage while giving developers enough incentive to build on adjacent parcels. Burke confirmed that was the intent, noting such models could also enhance developers’ access to financing by demonstrating city commitment.
Councilwoman Sonia Vasquez Luna expressed optimism but urged caution. âWe want to make sure this improves Old Town, not hurts our small businesses,â she said.
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger voiced support: âWe need to use every tool in the toolbox to make this project a reality.â
If the guidelines are adopted, the city will issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to submit comprehensive plans. Proposals could include hotel, residential, retail, or civic components and must clearly identify benefits to the public.
City officials emphasized that the guidelines do not bind the city to accept any proposalâit merely opens the legal pathway to negotiate if a promising concept is submitted.
The Council agreed the process will offer more flexibility and transparency, particularly as the city retains ownership of the annex and parking areas that are central to downtownâs long-term success.
Related Coverage on Potomac Local News:
At the Monday night meeting, Manassas City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026 budget, totaling more than $512 million and following months of meetings.
The budget will take effect on July 1; though the real estate tax rate will remain flat at $1.07 per $100 of assessed value, property assessments are increasing an average of 8%. The average increase for a homeowner's tax bill is expected to be about $406 starting July 1.
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Starting July 1, 2025, your monthly bills in Manassas will look a little differentâmostly upward. The city is planning to raise utility rates and emergency service fees to support its budget for the next fiscal year.
Letâs break it down so you donât have to squint at a spreadsheet đ§ž:
đ Electric Bills Are Getting a Jolt
- Residential customers will see:
- Monthly base charge: up from $15.18 to $16.17
- Energy charge per kWh: $0.0924 to $0.0984
Itâs a 6.5% increase across the board, whether you’re running a household or a business.
đ° Water Costs Are Flowing Higher
Your residential water bill is going up by 8.5%:
- Monthly charge: $10.94 â $11.87
- First 5,000 gallons: $3.50 â $3.80 per 1,000 gallons
- Over 12,000 gallons in summer: $3.87 â $4.20
Even if you arenât watering the lawn, expect to feel this.
đ˝ Sewer Rates Are Creeping Up, Too
Only by 3%, but still noticeable:
- Monthly sewer charge: $9.87 â $10.17
- Most flow charges up about 10â15 cents per 1,000 gallons
For families, this adds up over time.
đ Calling an Ambulance? Expect a Bigger Bill
Manassas is raising EMS transport fees significantly:
- Basic Life Support: $500 â $800
- Advanced Life Support Level 2: $800 â $1,200
- Mileage: $13 â $15 per mile
Even in emergencies, it pays to know the cost.
đ What About Property Taxes?
Your property tax rate isnât going upâbut the city expects to collect nearly $6.6 million more. Translation? Assessments likely went up. So your bill might, too.
⨠What Else Is Going Up?
The city is also raising fees for:
- Fire permits
- Recreation programs
- Airport hangars and rentals
đď¸ Why All the Increases?
Itâs all part of a $513 million budget that includes:
- More funding for public schools (+$32M)
- Boosts to water and sewer infrastructure
- Investment in city vehicles, tech, and maintenance
The city also plans to rely less on savings to pay its bills next year.
đ Want to weigh in? The public hearing is Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
đŹ Let me know in the comments: How do you feel about the new rates? Is this investment worth the cost?
MANASSAS, Va. â With construction underway and a private operator on board, Manassas is inching closer to launching commercial airline service from its regional airport. But after years of planning, the first flights wonât take off until 2026âa full year later than initially planned.
At a City Council work session on May 20, 2025, airport officials shared updates on infrastructure and federal regulatory changes that pushed the timeline. The newest airport master plan outlines major upgrades like a new terminal and improved airfield layout to accommodate commercial jets and future growth.
âWe started this process back in 2021,â said Airport Director Juan Rivera, noting how commercial service shifted the cityâs aviation strategy. âWhen we had enough information, we came forth⌠[and] the airport will now become a commercial service airport.â
