During its February 2025 meeting, the Thirty-First Judicial District Community Criminal Justice Board (CCJB), re-elected Bradley Marshall as board chairman and elected Yesli Vega as vice chair. The board, which serves the greater Prince William County area, assists community agencies and organizations in establishing and modifying programs and services for criminal offenders based on objectively assessing the community’s needs and resources.
Marshall, a criminal defense attorney with Manassas-based Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C., has been a board member since 2009 when he was appointed as former Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert’s designee. He was first elected chairman in 2014 and remained in the position after transitioning to private practice. Marshall attributes his long history in Prince William County law and his experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney as reasons his colleagues have consistently elected him.
“I believe my colleagues have elected me for over a decade because I bring a steady hand to the meetings and to guiding the board, as well as a lot of institutional memory,” Marshall said.
Vega, the Coles District representative on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and a key figure in local politics, said she relies on data and her experience in law enforcement to guide her decisions.
“As a law enforcement officer, I bring a unique perspective and understanding of our local criminal justice system, using data and community input to advocate for effective, evidence-based practices,” Vega said.
A Prince William County reserve deputy sheriff, Vega began her law enforcement career as a police officer in Alexandria before serving with the Manassas Park Police Department.
“Supervisor Vega is a proven consensus builder who can bring stakeholders together to navigate complicated situations and come together to do what’s best for the community. I have no doubt she will continue to do so as vice chair of this board,” Marshall said.
The CCJB consists of 27 board members from local agencies involved in probation and the incarceration of accused individuals.
“The best thing about this board is the number and level of stakeholders involved,” Marshall said.
In addition to representatives from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, defense attorneys, and law enforcement officers, the board includes judges, social services representatives, behavioral health providers, and citizens from each represented area.
“It is a board of subject matter experts who collaborate to help each other, and in the end, help the community,” Marshall said.
The board ensures that court-offered programs comply with changes in state policy and best practices nationwide.
“Ultimately, I want to ensure that programs yield measurable improvements in public safety and reduced recidivism,” Vega said.
Marshall agreed.
“The board has made tremendous strides in evidence-based decision-making over the last several years, and I know we will continue to do so in order to improve the local criminal justice system,” he said.
The CCJB meets quarterly. Its next meeting will be held at 5 p.m. April 22, 2025, at the Adult Detention Center, 9320 Lee Avenue, Manassas.
Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega has issued a directive to widen Route 28 from four to six lanes between the Manassas City Line and the Fairfax County Line, marking a significant shift in the county's approach to alleviating traffic congestion. Vega's directive follows the Board of County Supervisors' recent vote to cancel the long-debated Route 28 Bypass Project.
The directive to widen the roughly three-mile stretch of roadway has been assigned to the Department of Transportation and Planning, which oversees the project's development. The corridor is lined with businesses on each side, and the widening will require crews to relocate utilities and likely the purchase of commercial properties to accommodate the wider lanes.
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Prince William County residents are invited to participate in a virtual community meeting on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon to discuss the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. Hosted by the Office of Management & Budget, the event allows the public to learn about the budget details and ask questions directly to county officials.
Residents must register in advance to attend. Upon approval, registrants will receive an invitation to the webinar.
The virtual presentation follows County Executive Christopher Shorter’s recent unveiling of a $2 billion budget proposal, which maintains the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, due to rising property assessments, the average residential tax bill is expected to increase by $276, bringing the total to $5,165. Approximately 57% of this bill—around $2,956—will be allocated to Prince William County Schools under the county’s revenue-sharing agreement.
Supervisor Yesli Vega voiced strong concerns about the proposed budget, arguing that it would impose an undue financial burden on residents.
“Unfortunately, even without a rate hike, the average taxpayer will still see an increase of $276. This amount fails to account for additional taxes, including the fire levy tax, which will drive costs even higher,” Vega stated.
She emphasized the need for a thorough budget review to ensure it serves all county residents reasonably.
“That’s why we need to take a hard look at this budget and make sure it works for everyone. Last year, this Board proved that by working together, we can achieve real results—balancing the needs of our community while protecting taxpayers. My goal is to build on that success, refine this budget, and find ways to deliver much-needed relief.”
Vega encouraged residents to attend the upcoming community meeting, voice their concerns, and contribute to shaping a budget that reflects local priorities.
“It’s crucial that we hear from you to ensure this budget reflects the priorities of our community. We must continue investing in education, public safety, sustainable housing, and infrastructure while also being mindful of the financial burden on taxpayers. With your input, we can shape a budget that supports growth and stability without putting extra strain on hardworking families.”
Residents are encouraged to attend the virtual community meeting to comprehensively understand the proposed budget and its potential impact.
For more information and to register for the event, visit Prince William County’s official website.
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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Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega is pushing to cancel the long-debated Route 28 Bypass project, a multi-year effort designed to alleviate congestion on Route 28 by extending Godwin Drive to connect Manassas with Dulles Airport. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is set to vote on her resolution during its meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
A Project Years in the Making
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“The Route 28 Bypass Project is a major regional transportation project administered by Prince William County. While I acknowledge and appreciate all the planning, design, engineering, and community engagement that has occurred across multiple jurisdictions, I no longer have confidence the project is viable or maintains the necessary support to move forward,” Vega stated.
The proposed resolution, presented at an upcoming board meeting, aims to allow the board to deliberate openly and determine the next steps for the controversial project.
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As Prince William County grows, officials highlight the need for new water sources to meet future demand. A primary concern is the expansion of data centers, which have become a significant consumer of water.
Calvin Farr, General Manager of Prince William Water, explained the county’s projected water needs: "We have dynamic hydraulic models we look at, really, to see if we can handle the additional growth. And if we don't, we identify capital needs. At that point, we put that in our master plan for capital needs that, you know, that is needed to supply additional growth."
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In a meeting on October 8, 2024, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved funding for new positions in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office, addressing the office's need for additional resources to handle an increasing caseload. The positions include four new attorney roles: paralegal, victim-witness staff, and administrative staff. Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth emphasized the importance of these positions for the efficiency and effectiveness of the county’s criminal justice system.
The new hires come after Ashworth said she would withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if county leaders don’t give her more employees.
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors met on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to discuss a proposal to address the risks associated with street panhandling by offering employment opportunities to those begging on busy streets. The plan, spearheaded by the county's health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability team, sought to provide panhandlers with jobs paying $13 an hour for two days a week, hoping this alternative would reduce their presence on streets and mitigate safety concerns.
Inspired by similar initiatives in cities like Albuquerque, New Mexico, the program aimed to address panhandling through a multi-faceted approach. This included coordinated community outreach, focused pedestrian violation enforcement, and public engagement efforts encouraging residents to give to local nonprofits instead of handing money directly to panhandlers. The idea was to transition panhandlers into employment while also addressing issues such as addiction and underemployment, which often drive individuals to beg for money.
