Tomorrow night, March 15 at 7:30 PM, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY 2023 budget. As with every year, the Board must find a balance: Seeking to limit tax impacts on all who reside in Prince William, while also ensuring that these very same residents have access to the infrastructure, services, and programs that enhance economic opportunity and the quality of life in Prince William. Your participation in budget discussions is key to achieving that balance. If you cannot attend the hearing, we encourage you to submit questions and comments online: https://occoq.org/FY23budget_questions.
To help curb the hit of rising real estate costs on local households, the Board is advertising a reduction in the real estate tax rate, to $1.05 per $100 of assessed value (from $1.115). Additionally, this proposed budget continues the phased increases to the business computers and peripherals tax (aka, the “Data Center tax”), bringing it to $1.65 per $100 in assessed value, as this Board continues to diversify revenue streams. Additional budget highlights this year include:
- $716M transfer to Prince William County Schools, which is $61M more than the previous year, and the largest in the county’s history.
- 4% tax on prepared (restaurant) meals, which will deliver $14M in revenue for our schools, with approximately 20% of revenue coming from visitors to the County (estimates include data from nearby jurisdictions with a meals tax in place).
- Continued support for bus transit, rail transit, and the Wheels-to-Wellness program.
- Establishment of the Crisis Stabilization Unit/Receiving Center, a facility to provide care for adults experiencing mental health crises.
- Creation of the framework necessary to establish Collective Bargaining in the county, giving our public sector employees a true seat at the table.
- 18 new positions within the Police Department; 2 for the new animal shelter and 16 civilian positions to handle administrative work currently being performed by sworn officers, freeing those officers to immediately hit the streets to enhance the safety and security of our community.
- Increased investments in our Fire & Rescue system, including subsidies to our Volunteer companies, replacement of apparatus and vehicles, and wellness programs.
- Capital Improvement Program support, particularly for the Occoquan Greenway, the Building & Facility Capital Program, County Watershed maintenance, Fire & Rescue Stations 27 & 28, Judicial Center Expansion and Renovation and Public Safety Training Center Expansion.
- Mobility Capital Improvement Projects, including Brentsville Road Interchange, Minnieville Road at Prince William Parkway Interchange, Old Bridge Road/Gordon Boulevard Intersection Improvement, Old Bridge Road/Occoquan Road Intersection Improvement, Potomac/Neabsco Mills Commuter Garage, Route 28 Bypass, and Summit School Road Extension & Telegraph Road Widening.
- Initial steps towards transition from a state-run health district to a county-run Public Health Department
You can sign up in person at the meeting ahead of 7:30 PM, or you can sign-up to speak remotely here by 5 PM today: https://pwcgov.granicusideas.com/