Each year, our County budget reflects our shared commitments and vision for Prince William. The approved FY 2022 Budget (5-3) reflects a community that is ready to address climate change, enhance public safety, shore up public health, care for our most vulnerable neighbors and invest in our youth.
Notably, this budget gives teeth to the Climate Mitigation & Sustainability Resolution that I introduced in Fall 2020. An allocation of $650,000 will enable Prince William County to stand up an Office of Sustainability, a Sustainability Commission and initiate development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP). While these efforts are long overdue—Prince William is the only Northern Virginia jurisdiction that does not already a CAP—County staff is already at work to ensure the success of these programs, and I am confident that we will quickly make up for years of inaction under previous boards.
I was also proud to support $14M in new funding to our public safety services, which includes fully funding Fire & Rescue Station 22. Additionally, this budget funds an expansion of the Co-Responder Program, which pairs CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) police officers with counselors to respond in tandem to residents experiencing a mental health crisis. This budget also ensures that the Commonwealth's Attorney will have adequate staffing levels to continue prosecuting misdemeanors such as DUIs and domestic violence cases. I also will continue to advocate for pay parity between that office and the new Public Defender’s Office.
Other important investments include an $800,000 supplement to the Prince William Health District, which has worked tirelessly to make us safer during the pandemic, and $1.2M to establish a Homeless Navigation Center, along with additional monies for homeless services in Western Prince William. In approving this budget, my colleagues and I approved the Board’s largest single-year investment in education, transferring $659M to Prince William County Public Schools, as well as $96K to help close the digital divide by adding hotspots at County libraries.
At the same time, we acknowledged the need to begin shifting tax burden away from those who call our County home: Property taxes affect the cost of living for homeowners and renters alike. We decreased the real estate tax rate to $1.115 per $100 of assessed values, while adopting new revenue streams such as a cigarette tax, a second consecutive increase to the “Data Center Tax” and creation of a “tax evader” position to investigate reports of out-of-state license plates, which should become revenue-positive in FY 23.
Additionally, I have worked with my colleagues and county staff to craft a five-year schedule to create certainty for Prince William businesses, while also bringing our data center tax rate more on par with surrounding jurisdictions. (Loudoun’s rate, for instance, is $4.20 per $100 in assessed value, while our FY22 rate will be $1.50.)
To those who participated in this year's budget process: Thank you. I hope that you remain engaged in the governing process. Our community is stronger for your efforts.