From the very start of the FY27 budget process, I reached out to the people of Neabsco to hear their priorities. For seven consecutive years, their message has remained clear: our residents want lower taxes. I’ve heard that message clearly, and during my time on this Board I’ve worked with my colleagues to turn it into reality by intentionally building a commercial tax base strong enough to support it. The Board of County Supervisors has taken a meaningful step toward a budget that aligns with what the people of this county have been calling for.
LOWERING THE REAL ESTATE TAX
The Board advanced a real estate tax rate reduction from $0.906 to $0.850, putting an estimated $145 back in the average homeowner’s pocket.
I have worked deliberately to build a commercial tax base through data center development that could carry the weight of tax reduction without passing the cost back to the families we serve. The Computer and Peripherals Tax is the engine behind that vision, and our budget reflects what that investment was always meant to produce.
MEALS TAX REDUCTION & INCREASE ON C&P TAX
The Board took action to decrease the Meals Tax from 3% to 2% requested by the restaurant industry and PWC residents and increase the C&P tax from $4.15 to $4.50.
The Meals Tax decrease created a significant gap in the budget, and I was not willing to see the increase in C&P revenue used to fill it. I have consistently pushed for C&P revenue to diversify funding streams to alleviate the burden of real estate taxes funding local government.
HISTORIC SCHOOL FUNDING TRANSFER
The Board honored the Revenue Sharing Agreement with a record $1.087 Billion transfer to Prince William County Public Schools.
The Revenue Sharing Agreement allocates57.23% of the county’s general revenues to Prince William County Public Schools and remains fully intact. following the markup at last Tuesday’s meeting, the county’s transfer to PWCS stands at $1.087 billion, one of the largest public-school investments in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
THERE IS NO “CUT” TO SCHOOL FUNDING
Calling this a cut isn’t accurate, and residents deserve a clearer explanation. What changed was the amount of proposed new spending added on top of an already significant investment. If adopted, this budget would still provide PWCS with about $96.3 million more than FY26 — an increase of roughly 9.7% year over year.
Delivering real relief to residents meant making disciplined decisions about requested Real Estate Tax Relief, and I believe the school system, like every institution, has an opportunity to direct its resources where they matter most: to students, teachers, and the families counting on them.
FY27 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Purchase of Development Rights: The Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program will invest in open space preservation, protecting Agriculture in the County.
Animal Shelter: Due to overcapacity at the Prince William County Animal Shelter, the facility will receive one additional full-time position to help support daily operations and care for every animal that comes through its doors.
Continued support for public safety.
PRTC /Transit: PRTC fully funded keeping public transportation moving for the residents who depend on it.
For many families, the decisions we make during the budget process carry real weight in their day to day lives With so much happening in the world around us, and residents already feeling the burden of it at home, this Board has a responsibility to act with both fiscal discipline and compassion for the people we serve.
The people of Neabsco have been patient, and they have been clear. I am committed to seeing this through, and I am confident this community should have a fair and balanced budget.
