Coraggio Consulting
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Place: Prince William County Board of County Supervisors, Virginia
Length: 1h 42m (video)
Official meeting video (Prince William County, Granicus): https://pwcgov.granicus.com/player/clip/3302
Official Board of County Supervisors page (Prince William County): https://www.pwcva.gov/department/board-county-supervisors

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-11-04. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:06] Good evening. Welcome to the 7.30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21st evening meeting. For those who wish, please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. If we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

[00:00:27] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:00:44] Thank you very much. Welcome. We do have our budget adoption later on this evening, but we have a couple of things before that. We are going to begin with item number three on the agenda, public comment time.

[00:01:00] Ms. Madden, do we have a public comment time sheet? The board will hear in-person and remote public comments. We're going to begin with in-person public comment time. I don't know how many people we have to speak, but each speaker will have three minutes to share their views and opinions regarding matters before the board.

[00:01:18] We ask that all speakers state their name and magisterial district or generally where they reside at the beginning of their remarks. After the first 15 minutes of in-person public comment time, we will close the sign-up list. Okay.

[00:01:36] I will call up our first five speakers to line up at the back of the microphone. Marion Patey, Felicia Partlow, Ann Medford, Diana Sante, and Alvaro Amaya.

[00:01:52] I'm sorry, it's in the back. Yeah, sorry.

[00:02:16] Okay. Good evening. Is this on? Can you hear me okay? All right. Good evening, Prince William County Board of Supervisors. My name is Marion Patey, and I reside in the Culls District at 10821 Moore Drive.

[00:02:33] And I retired from a career in teaching in 2019 after 28 years of teaching. I am a leader from Voice, quote, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement.

[00:02:52] voice urges the board to fully support the increase in the county's supplement for the public defender's office from the current 15% to 25%. This increase is needed to strengthen the public defender's office and to ensure its vital role in the community now and for the long term. The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution states, quote, in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the assistance of counsel for his or her defense

[00:03:28] end quote the sixth the sixth amendment was written into the united states constitution in 1791 voice is very thankful for the print to the prince wayne county board of supervisors for the establishment of the public defender's office but we feel that the supplement increase is vital to the continuing work of the office and as much so that all citizens may enjoy the right to counsel as established in the United States Constitution's Sixth Amendment. Thank you for your attention

[00:04:04] to this matter. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Good evening. My name is Felicia and I reside in the Woodbridge District. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you tonight to express both my appreciation for the work all of you do in the community as well as my concern about the discussion around pay increases for general county employees. Last week it was quite disheartening to hear several of you pick public safety employees against general county workforce employees. As a member of the general county workforce I can tell you that you may not see what I do on a daily

[00:04:39] basis but my job is to help this county run smoothly and I don't believe that it should be taken lightly. I work this job every day because not only do I enjoy working for a diverse county such as Prince William County, but also because my family depends on it and to talk as if my work is less commendable than that of other county employees is not only untrue, but it's unfair.

[00:05:04] We deserve substantial increases in pay because we help to keep this county running. Without the services of general county employees, the policies that the board implements can't be executed. We help keep neighborhoods clean. We process financial payments made by your constituents. We help small business with paperwork and so much more.

[00:05:23] Yes, you may not see us on a daily basis, but we are behind the scenes doing the work to help keep this county running. Please respect us and don't pit us against one of the other hardworking employees. If you want to pit us against anybody, pit us against your local businesses that's making up between $100,000 and $499,000 and paying zero in taxes.

[00:05:45] That's who you should be trying to collect if you want to get any more money instead of saving on the backs of the county employees and residents. Thank you for your time, and I would like to give a special shout-out to my supervisor, Supervisor Margaret Franklin. Thank you for standing up for all employees. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please.

[00:06:09] Good evening, Madam Chair and Supervisors. I'm Ann Medford of the Aquan District. I'm a Prince William County employee with Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, and I first would like to thank you and our county executive for advocating for us and our Prince William County employees to have access to our recreation centers in a beneficial way to maintain and improve the health of our workforce. I'm speaking to you today and also to my fellow Prince William County employees in support of collective

[00:06:46] bargaining. I want you to understand who we are and why it's important for our county. We are your employees. We are your constituents and we do hard work. We do it for you. We do it to support our communities and our families. We're advocating for the right to sit at the table with our managers and make our workplace meaningfully better. We support a union to help Prince William County

[00:07:17] employees keep pace with other jurisdictions here in North Virginia. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics told us that non-union workers had a median weekly earning that was only 85% of what they could have been if they had been union members, less than what we could have been earning. Prince William County employees shouldn't have to leave where we live and go to Fairfax or Loudoun in order to make a living wage and earn what we need to live here and support our

[00:07:56] unions. We will continue to work hard, make Prince William County the best place to live and work. However, as we've seen, organized labor has helped obtain workplace safety rules, established a 40-hour work week, overtime pay, and benefits for hardworking people.

[00:08:14] Many of our parents and our grandparents, as you know, are able to enjoy middle class and bountiful lives because of our unions. A good collective bargaining agreement and future contract between labor and management helps ensure employees are treated fairly by management and we can communicate more fairly.

[00:08:38] You've done great work, but you know more work we can do together and we will. Chair Wheeler, Supervisors, your Prince William County employees need you to speak up more for us, for our county, and support a meaningful ordinance.

[00:09:02] We need the right to bargain over workplace conditions and for our provisional employees to be included in our ordinance. Our working conditions are our county's living conditions. We have an obligation to leave Prince William County better for the next generation.

[00:09:18] join me, join us, and improve the ordinance that we can continue to work together for our union and for the betterment of our county. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Hi, I'm Diana Santee. I live in Montclair, and I am a mother and an ESL teacher.

[00:09:42] Tonight, I am speaking as a member of Voice from Dale City Elementary. Before I get started, I'd like to thank the Board of Supervisors for their hard work in helping the Public Defender's office and for giving me a chance to speak. On behalf of voice, I am asking for an increase in the supplement for the public defender's office from 15 percent to 25 percent. This issue is important to me mainly because of my students. My school is in a very poor neighborhood. I know that if my students' families were to get into any legal troubles, they would not be able to afford

[00:10:22] lawyers on their own and would have to depend completely on the public defenders. My students are young and I too have young children. I see through my children and my students that elementary school students are extremely dependent on their parents and need them to be able to provide for almost all their needs. My students have come to me crying because of the hardships that their families are having. Though they are young, they are very much aware of what is going on. I know that if their parents or siblings were to get in legal trouble and be taken away, they would be

[00:11:01] completely devastated. I would feel more, I would like to feel confident that their families would be able to have attorneys who would be willing to support them as much as paid for attorneys. While there has been support for the Public Defender's Office, I think that higher supplements would help there be more defenders and cause them to have more pride and motivation in their work.

[00:11:28] I would like to thank the Board of Supergeysers again for allowing me to speak. Thank you. Thank you. And before our next speaker, I just want to call up the last three, Patrice Summers, Jamie VanEco, and Christopher Carroll. Please proceed.

[00:11:46] Good evening, all. First off, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. My name is Alvaro Amaya, and I'm part of the Prince William County community.

[00:12:03] I've lived in the Woodbridge area for the past 15 years, along with my family. I have children who attend school in this county, and I'm a loyal taxpayer. As you all know, Prince William County is growing rapidly, and we are seeing infrastructure development, new housing, new businesses are establishing offices.

[00:12:23] Generally speaking, as a whole, we are grateful for this development that has been brought to our county and are eager to see what the future holds. However, development is typically done to improve the quality of life of the residents and to improve the infrastructure and growth of the economy.

[00:12:43] Prince William County is currently going through this process right now. Unfortunately, I have been able to observe the living conditions and lack of dignified affordable housing for many people are facing. We have lived in this county for decades. As a leader, you must start to make decisions that can benefit all residents of this county and not just a select few.

[00:13:05] We cannot continue massive development without having complete protections or a backup plan in place for our families. Many people are forced to share housing with other families, sometimes people they don't even know, just to lower the cost of rent.

[00:13:22] And this means that we don't have appropriate space or privacy for our families. In addition, there are extremely high risks with sharing these crowded spaces. The children have little not to access of quality education due to location and circumstances.

[00:13:46] You are side-handedly taken away from individuals' livelihood and taking their security blanket away. It doesn't have to be this way. the community can create better opportunities for the families that live here. We strongly believe that our community needs significant investment and affordable housing for our community and for those with lower income levels.

[00:14:11] As a community member and citizen, I ask to please take action for those vulnerable people who pay their taxes year to year and are currently making a contribution to the progress for this county. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:14:27] Next speaker, please. Good evening, Board of County Supervisors. My name is Patrice Summers. I reside in Supervisor Bailey's District. I am a county employee considered part of the general government. I'm speaking on my own behalf today and not on the behalf of the county. I believe this government to be a body that works hand in hand. I work in the finance section of this body, trying to keep businesses honest and compliant so that we have a budget available to divide up amongst the school and the Prince William

[00:15:03] county government. Without one part of the body, the rest of the body does not function properly. Just as police and fire in their role do not inspect and assess businesses in my role, I don't stop crime or run into burning buildings to rescue anyone. All of the departments are essential to keep our county running. As an employee, these taxes allow me to remain a county employee, but as a resident it's becoming too costly to maintain residency in the county. The residents of Prince William County are being taxed far greater than the local businesses in this county. Please explain

[00:15:41] how a county resident who is a county employee making $18,000 to $70,000 is paying more in taxes to the county than a local county business making $100,000 to $499,000 who is not paying. The idea of decreasing the proposed percent of pay adjustment to the general employees who are making less than $100,000 per year boggles my mind. You say we only work 37.5 hours and get to work from home. Well, I guess working 37.5 hours working from home is a blessing because now we

[00:16:17] don't have to decide between putting food on the table or putting gas in the car to come to work. I am now using additional water and electricity I pay for. The board has made it clear that they don't value me as a resident or an employee, judging by the ordinance and budget that was proposed.

[00:16:37] Businesses located in Prince William County making greater, under $500,000 pay $0 in taxes. They aren't even required to file for a business license. So how do you know when and if they start making more?

[00:16:54] On the other hand, for county residents, you make sure you have real estate ownership, declaration of vehicles, and if I own a dog, I got to pay a dog license. As a resident, the increased cost of living in the county raised real estate taxes the last 14 to 15 years, raised property taxes, and the adoption of a food and beverage tax.

[00:17:16] You can't keep diminishing, downgrading, and insulting the very people whom you depend on to keep this county running and whom you swore to serve. Service on this board should not just be for some of your constituents, employees, or residents, but for all who live and work in Prince William County.

[00:17:32] Thank you, Mr. Shorter, CXO, Chair Wheeler, and the members who did not try to pit employees against one another. Thank you to those who represent the general. We will remember your efforts when seats are up for grabs in November. Thank you.

[00:17:49] Next speaker, please. Good evening. My name is Jamie Van Echo. I live in the Coles District. I'm here on behalf of people who live with disabilities, children and adults. So I don't have a prepared statement, but I do want to say that all of the funds that you have appropriated in the budget that you've proposed, any of the county services that are available to all should be available to all who have disabilities.

[00:18:20] Additionally, transportation, buses help people with disabilities get around the county to get to their jobs and to get to the services that they need. Additionally, I am really grateful to all of the police officers and all the people who work in public safety to help people with disabilities and the funds to support those people to understand the needs of people living with disabilities, specifically cognitive and language disabilities, are really helpful to make sure that everybody stays safe in this community.

[00:18:57] Lastly, I would like to say thank you so much again for putting so much into the public schools. I'm on several committees, including the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Equitable Budgeting Committee formed by the new superintendent and the equity officer.

[00:19:14] It's interesting to see what inequities lie in Prince William County schools and the fact that you guys are funding the schools to the degree that you are is going to support all students and increase the equity around the county so thank you again for that and i hope that you continue to support public schools and public services in order to support people with disabilities thank you so much thank you very much next speaker please christopher carroll brentsville district um i just want to start by saying it was a pathetic display last

[00:19:51] week um miss wheeler you're not going to put forth devlin until after the election and you're blaming everyone else for making this a political play. I mean, we're not stupid. We understand it. And Supervisor Bodie, instead of trying to defend Ms. Wheeler, why don't you take a look in the mirror and take some accountability for your actions in muddling this entire situation?

[00:20:09] But enough of that. We're here to talk about the budget tonight. And the most frustrating thing about this budget is just the fundamental lack of understanding of what's in it. This board has been raising taxes on everyone, nickel and diming everyone the past three years, except data centers. And Supervisor Engie has consistently said that it wouldn't be fair to increase data center tax rates as it's unexpected.

[00:20:30] And then last year, he promptly voted last year to implement a meals tax that affected all of Prince William County consumers and taxpayers with no notice. Is that the idea fair? But that's what happens when we have a board under the leadership of Ms. Wheeler, who has a stock portfolio larger than most county departments.

[00:20:46] You lose a sense of perspective. You all want to have nice things, too. That's why you have Supervisor Enge spending almost $20,000 on a 75-inch smart board. Supervisor Franklin giving $10,000 of bonuses to her three staff members last December.

[00:21:04] Supervisor Bailey putting a contract in place under questionable circumstances at best for $30,000 for a style consultant. How is the county supposed to have confidence in your budget when these are the types of items that you consider important? I'd say once again, take a step back and look in the mirror, but I figured that was already covered by the style consultant. And that brings us back to Ms. Wheeler, a literal walking conflict of interest. Are you going to share with the public tonight that your husband is the president of Keep Prince William Beautiful? You know, the community partner that you have steered almost half a million dollars to from your time on the board. Has anyone actually confirmed where that money is going? The tax records are nowhere to be found, and it looks like the county isn't

[00:21:43] collecting that info. And they have some profit loss statements for review. But the interesting thing there, of their $200,000 of expenses last year, do you know how much of that went to actual program expenses for the county? Not 50%, not 25%, 5%, $11,000. Do you know how much of that went to salaries? Almost $150,000. So I think it's a fair question to know who's getting paid those salaries, or at least where the money is going, off the back of taxpayers. But I guess that information is locked away with Ms. Wheeler's dividend report for QTS. And in closing, no need

[00:22:20] for anyone on the board to accost me afterwards that my information is wrong, like last time I spoke on Budget Matters. As the kids say, I have the receipts. And I hope you take tonight to go over those receipts, the excess spending, tonight, not next year, not in the future. And instead of giving those cuts and breaks to your friends and families, why don't you help out literally everyone in the county everyone in this room by giving us just a measly little tax break this year thank you that will conclude our in public public our in-person public comment time this evening and we will move to remote public comment time vice chair bode thank you madam chair good evening

[00:22:58] everyone miss van do we have anyone online tonight yes there are two people online all right shall we begin thank you so much your first speaker is steve amato good morning board i'm steve amato from Lakeridge. And this is my fourth time appearing to reemphasize some of the tax breaks that we need. And I'm so happy to hear my fellow citizens echo the same reason. So from last week's budget markup, my observations were that there were over five agencies that were seeking

[00:23:38] compensation, otherwise known as pay raises. And those were pretty much authorized. And one particular example is the public defendant's office where an attorney came in and pleaded for advocacy for additional raises. And with the stroke of a pen, the board chair woman went ahead and agreed with a 25% pay raise in that particular office. The Prince William County residents have proven we've been overtaxed with over $75 million in surplus in FY22. And the track record in FY23

[00:24:18] Three is showing nearly $23 million in surplus thus far. None of these funds have been refunded back to the citizens, particularly the taxpayers of real estate. It's been known as the year of the employee for Prince William County. I hope we can get the year of the taxpayer in FY24.

[00:24:37] I know, by the way, the board majority party would not agree to lower the real estate tax base to .947. So one example where I think we could make some funding headway is on the public display of the budget for Prince William County.

[00:24:57] Slide 33 shows that the executive management budget line for 24 is $6.25 million, a 14.7% increase from FY23. On slide 40, it shows the executive management FTE to be reduced to an FY24, but the slide shows 41, or is it really 34?

[00:25:22] So that is, if you divide the 34 FTEs into the 6.25, that's a cost of $183,921 each. You could probably reduce those FTEs by at least three, and we can be in the ballpark to get down to 0.947.

[00:25:41] So I really hope the majority party board will take a serious look at that and decrease our tax base 0.947 FY24. Otherwise, you'll be known and continue to be known as tax station extremists.

[00:26:01] Thank you for my fellow citizens for voicing up and taking their First Amendment privilege and right to explain we are overtaxed. Thank you, Mr. Amato, for your comments. Next speaker, please. The next speaker is Stephanie Williams.

[00:26:26] Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Please begin. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Wheeler, Vice Chair Bodie, Board of County Supervisors, and County Executive Short.

[00:26:46] My name is Stephanie Williams. I moved to the county over 30 years ago. Soon after, I went from college professor to becoming the first professional Spanish court interpreter in the 31st Judicial District. I'm proud to have been the first recipient of the Prince William Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award and to have received the County Commission for Women's Distinguished Woman Award.

[00:27:12] Along the way, I produced the Commonwealth's first Spanish-language radio show out of Cousin Ray's studio in Dumfries. I helped Sheriff Garrison during our infamous trial, and I'm proud to be a graduate of the amazing County Citizen Police Academy.

[00:27:31] But let me explain to you why I created Panorama Latino TV show. In the late 1990s, on Christmas Day, a Hispanic family went Christmas caroling, mom and dad and their two children and a niece.

[00:27:52] The very next day, they died, all of them died in a preventable fire in their home here in the county. And that is why I created Panorama Latino TV show at the request of a Comcast cable executive.

[00:28:12] The show is seen on Comcast Channel 2 every Friday night at 8.30 p.m. and on social media. For over 23 years, Panorama Latino show has served as a vital link between many county departments and county residents.

[00:28:29] We didn't ask your permission, and we didn't ask for money, but we did get down to the business of saving lives and enriching the lives of county Hispanics by breaking down the language barrier.

[00:28:47] Over all these years, we have educated people about the workings of your code enforcement division, your fire department, your social services department, and parks and recreation, among others. Our show has been recognized far and wide, including by the County Board of Supervisors on our 10th and 20th anniversaries.

[00:29:07] We've been recognized by U.S. Senators, the Virginia Governor, the entire Virginia Senate, the Virginia School Boards Association, countless community leaders and elected officials. I ask for your financial support at this time for the 501c3 non-profit organization that produces Panorama Latino TV show that is Hispanic Outreach and Cultural Diversity Education. Thank you.

[00:29:35] Thank you, Ms. Williams. Next speaker, please. There are no more remote speakers. Thank you so much, Ms. Van, as always, and have a good evening. Thank you, Ms. Van. Thank you, Vice Chair Bodie. Very good. We are now on to agenda item four, county executive time. Mr. Shorter, the floor is yours.

[00:29:55] Doesn't work, but no items for me. We'll work on that next week. Make sure that'll get fixed. Okay. Next on the agenda, we have the county attorney, Ms. Robel. The floor is yours. Thank you, Madam Chair. We have no items for closed session this evening.

[00:30:13] Welcome back, Ms. Robel. Okay. So we don't have any closed session items, which brings us on to item number six, supervisor's time. We're going to go through the budget adoption one by one, the different things, and then we can go around the horn if people want to do regular supervisor's time this evening.

[00:30:37] Oh, yes, Supervisor Angry, please. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, before the board discusses and votes on the agenda item involving the school budget, I need you to declare a personal interest in this matter. Let me try this. My wife is a special education instructional aide with the schools.

[00:30:52] As a school employee, my wife and I are members of a group which is affected by this matter. I will be participating in it because I am able to do so fairly, objectively, and in the public interest. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Okay, we're going to go through these methodically.

[00:31:09] We're going to begin with 6A, a resolution to adopt the fiscal year 2024 real estate property tax levy, fire tax levy, personal property tax levies, et cetera, et cetera, as written in the agenda. Can I get a motion for 6A, please?

[00:31:26] So moved, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. We will now enter discussion. Ms. Madden, can you make sure we time people? And I'll keep track of how many times people spoke. Thank you. Supervisor Weir.

[00:31:42] Madam Chair, I'd move to divide the question, specifically divide out the real property tax levy. Just that one, Mr. Weir? Okay. So do we need to vote on his motion to divide?

[00:31:58] Okay, that's fine. Yeah, just the very first one, the 2024 real estate property tax levy. We do that a lot just to separate out, you know, from the rest of all the other things that we vote on. I'll second. Motion made by Supervisor Weir, seconded by Supervisor Vega.

[00:32:18] So we are now in the discussion on the motion to divide the question. It's a non-debatable motion. Oh, sorry. You're right. Okay. All those in favor or just please vote. Vote unanimous.

[00:32:38] Okay. so do i need to have a new motion on just that one or is does his motion to divide work for that okay uh so it's been amended it's been amended or is it do we have to redo that madam chair i would move 6a as amended do we need to do that ms uh-huh what's such a nice screen though we could just

[00:33:18] keep that screen up all night second motion made by supervisor uh we are seconded by vice chair Bode. Okay. Madam Chair. Supervisor, did you want to speak? I have a question. Okay. So what we're voting on is everything except the real estate rate. Correct. For clarity. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

[00:33:44] Supervisor, where did you want to say something? I have a question on 6A as amended. I see every other tax and fee listed, or virtually every other tax and fee listed, regardless of whether they were had an amendment to the fee this year or not or the tax this year with the exception of the meals tax. Supervisor, I believe the meals tax is set by ordinance so we don't have to adopt it every year. Do I? We set a lot of things by ordinance but it would just seem to me that if we're going to adopt every other fee and tax we should at least list it and make mention of it.

[00:34:25] We don't, it's set by ordinance. We don't have to do it every year so I don't know what else to say. Can someone want to explain that to Ms. Roble? Madam Chair, members of the board, last year the board adopted an ordinance to adopt the meals tax.

[00:34:43] Public hearing was required for that ordinance and it was put in place. For you to amend it, you would need to have another public hearing and amend it. The other, such as the B poll, refers to an annual rate and therefore that time expires.

[00:34:58] It has to be readopted each year. Your annual budget is an annual budget. It has to be readopted every year. Same with the motor vehicle license tax. So, therefore, since there was no direction from the board to adjust the rate for the meals tax, there was no public hearing, and therefore the board cannot adjust the meals tax tonight.

[00:35:30] I would just note that as a matter of best practices, it's never a bad thing to re-enumerate. And I've got a fair amount of experience with the meals tax in other jurisdictions. they do reauthorize it every year or at least make note of it in the schedule madam chair members of the board I understand what you're saying it may be a little bit confusing because some things are listed and others are not but to have it listed without the required public hearing you would not be able to take any action on it anyhow so it would be a redundant vote understood I'm just

[00:36:08] suggesting that for next year we included as part of the schedule just we did quickly as a best practice thank you okay supervisor Lawson we're in discussion now correct well although I have a question for staff so okay you know we received these literally this afternoon so can can the county executive or mr. Sinclair just

[00:36:42] kind of remind us of what the I remember last year we changed the the assessed value with personal property tax on vehicles and we tax maybe at an 80% value. Can you remind us what we did last year and what we're doing this year? Welcome Ms. Adrie. Michelle Adrie, your CFO.

[00:37:08] Last year, because of the appreciation that was happening in the market around used vehicle prices, normally used vehicle prices depreciate. During COVID, they were appreciating because of the supply chain shortages, the chip shortages. And so vehicles, what we were seeing, were going up double-digit, some 20%, and so we offset the assessment because we didn't think that value really was reflective of the true value of the vehicle.

[00:37:33] Vehicles depreciate over time. And so we assessed to 80%. This year's NADA, J.D. Powers Guide, came out, and most vehicles did depreciate, a lot of them 20%, 15%. Most of them? It's back to a more normal market. So that would suggest that we assess it 100% fair market value.

[00:37:52] Okay. So is that what this, be it further resolved under personal property, you have like a schedule 100% under $1,000 or less, that clause? That's the personal property tax relief.

[00:38:08] So that's the offset to the vehicle personal property tax is paid by the state. Okay. So we're back to 100%. 100% of assessed value, yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you for that explanation.

[00:38:25] Okay. You're welcome. Seeing no further people who want to speak, please vote. Madam Chair, can we clarify exactly what we're voting on? Well, Madam Chair, because we still have the whole meals tax included in this, I would like to separate the data center tax rate because I am supportive of that, but I'm not supportive of everything else that's included, so I'm not sure what the procedural way of doing that.

[00:38:59] Since, Supervisor, we're asked to split with the real estate rate, I want to separate the data center rate out of this. So which one is that? Is that the personal property? Can someone help me out? Right.

[00:39:16] Sure. Okay. Okay. You made a motion to divide the question further with the peripherals tax removed?

[00:39:33] Yes, Madam Chair. Second. Okay. Motion made by Supervisor Vega, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Further divide the question. Yes, we're going to make you type tonight. So just for clarity, this is just the computer peripherals tax, right?

[00:39:56] Yes, correct. Yep. Yeah. Divide it. Yep. We're just voting on a divide it. Vote unanimous. So could I get a new motion for 6A without the real estate property tax levy and without the peripherals tax?

[00:40:15] So moved then, Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Any discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Oh, sorry. I'm just trying to move us along.

[00:40:37] That's not the motion in progress. Oh, I'm sorry. That's all right. Hold on. Take your time. we're throwing it at it right and left it's all right so that was going to be supervisor bailey and bode thank you there we go okay so that's everything minus those two yes madam chair yeah

[00:41:15] and all the other rates are the same as previous year if i remember correctly i mean there's a ton of them up here is a fire levy in this one yep okay the levy was reduced to be clear the levy was reduced so so this is 6a no real estate no cnp motion passes 6 to 2 supervisors lawson and vega voting nay okay so then we need a new motion for just the peripherals tax um at the rate of 215

[00:41:54] second motion made by supervisor lawson seconded by vice chair bode any discussion seeing oh no that's right please vote vote unanimous then that moves on to our fiscal year 2024 real estate

[00:42:32] property tax levy, which is 96.6 or 0.966. Can I get a motion for that please? Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Motion passes 5 to 3. Supervisors Lawson, Vega, and Weir voting nay. That moves us on to 6B, which is to adopt the

[00:43:10] fiscal year 2024 storm management, stormwater management fees, solid waste user fees, land development application review and inspection inspection fees so are you going to ask to divide the question okay so can I sure staff question thank you man 6b thank you chair the the second be it for the resolves for half for half a million dollars affordable housing proffers mr. shorter is that is

[00:43:47] that we were we've been recently referencing for rent assistance or can you explain what this clause does because I know mr. Johnson has I don't know if he's in here I can't okay I just can't see him can somebody explain to me what this clause does for the half a million dollar affordable housing proffers it's it's we're on C right oh sorry I'm getting ahead of you yeah my bad madam chair I withdraw my question till we get to see isn't cat and I

[00:44:22] apologize okay so I need a motion on 6b and then you can make a motion to divide have a second motion made by supervisor Bailey seconded by vice chair Bodie supervisor we're okay we're gonna vote on separating that out it's motion made by supervisor we're seconded by supervisor Lawson and this This is just a motion to divide.

[00:45:02] Vote unanimous.

[00:45:19] Okay, if I could get a motion on 6B without the solid waste user fees. So move, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Any further discussion? Seeing none, whenever Ms. Madden, you ready, we can vote.

[00:45:44] Motion passes, 6 to 2.

[00:46:02] Supervisors Lawson and Vega voting nay. So can I get a motion on adopting just a solid waste user fees? So move, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Any discussion?

[00:46:19] Supervisor Weir. Madam Chair, I've already raised my objection to the solid waste user fee and the way this has been sort of sprung on the public and the impact of the tip fee on the general residential taxpayer.

[00:46:35] But it also occurs to me that in conjunction with the meals tax, this will have a disproportionate impact on restaurants, particularly small restaurants who are operating on a very narrow margin to begin with, and will make it even harder for the smaller restaurants to compete, and if not stay viable, so I am not going to support that particular user fee.

[00:47:03] Okay. Seeing no further discussion, please vote. Motion passes. Five to three. Supervisors Lawson, Vega, and Weir voting nay.

[00:47:24] That brings us on to 6C, Budget and Appropriate the Fiscal Year 2024. all funds budget, and adopt the fiscal year 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program. So moved, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie.

[00:47:40] Any discussion? Supervisor Lawson. Thank you, Madam Chair. Will somebody help me out with memory of this? Is this regarding rental assistance, or is this to establish the, help get affordable housing trust?

[00:47:58] Yeah, the board originally appropriated these housing proffers way back in fiscal year 2020, I think may have even been during the onset of the pandemic if I'm not mistaken and this was before frankly even the cares Act really became a reality and so the board took a proactive step step appropriating these funds for affordable housing because we weren't quite sure what was coming the board has carried over these funds which have remained unspent year after year and here we are

[00:48:33] are continuing that and moving it forward as we consider affordable housing initiatives in the county. A question, Mr. Sinclair, are we adding to it or it's just that same balance? It's the same half million dollars that was originally done in fiscal 20. We are not adding to it. Okay, very good.

[00:48:59] Thank you. So where's that been sitting? It has been budgeted in housing but not commingled in their operating budget it has been available we have not drawn upon it because frankly we haven't needed to okay as we're coming out of the pandemic thank you if the board does not appropriate this it would have to revert back to the proffers thank you cannot be used for the county's normal operating budget so this has nothing to do with the rental assistance program

[00:49:34] i don't believe so okay that's i'm just just clarifying supervisor bailey okay you're done Okay. Okay. Seeing no further discussion, please vote. Motion passes five to three. Supervisors Lawson, Vega, and Weir voting nay. That brings us to 6D, budget and appropriate the fiscal year 2024 school budget. So moved, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by

[00:50:07] Vice Chair Bodie. Any discussion? Supervisor Weir. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just going to reiterate my concerns with respect to the way the county school division's budget has been I have voiced numerous concerns, both at this dais and in my office to the finance department over the school division.

[00:50:31] I don't believe that there's been appropriate oversight on how that money is being expended or any controls on how it's being spent. And I would suggest that by essentially hiding behind the revenue fund, we are not properly funding the school's needs.

[00:50:53] As a result, I will not support this. Seeing no further discussion, please vote. Motion passes 5-3.

[00:51:11] Supervisors Lawson, Vega, and Weir voting nay. Next, we have 6E, Budget and Appropriate and Transfer Fiscal 2024 Transit Special Revenue Fund.

[00:51:30] So moved, Madam Chair. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Any discussion? Supervisor Lawson. Madam Chair, I'm just going to note that, you know, I'm going to be a no vote again on this and draw attention to the fact that we are funding public transit, the bus system, an additional $7 million from last year alone.

[00:51:59] Last year was $13 million. This year it's almost $8 million, $21 million. And I would argue that we have a serious problem with a lot of empty buses, commuter and local, and yet we're throwing millions more at this, and it just simply makes no sense to me.

[00:52:22] Seeing no further discussion, please vote. Motion passes 5 to 3. Supervisors Lawson, Vega, and Weir voting nay. Madam Chair.

[00:52:39] Supervisor Bode? Yeah, sorry. I wanted to say something because I wasn't wanting to read through it to make sure, but can someone from Finance fact-check that? Because based on the resolution I'm reading, it's only $17 million and change, not $20 million. I know that request was $20 million, but I don't see that we're appropriating $20 million for this.

[00:53:01] Yeah, that's a request. If you look down at the last therefore, turn the page. It's a therefore clause.

[00:53:17] That's $4.5 million more. Supervisor Bode, you are correct. As it is described in the resolution that is being considered, accounts for $17.6 million and not $21 million.

[00:53:40] Appreciate that. Thank you. I'm not sure if I can stand corrected. Thank you, Supervisor Bodie. I still take issue with $4.5 million more. Okay, so we voted on that, and you were just commenting or asking a question.

[00:53:56] Supervisor, where did you? I would just like to further correct. It's actually a cumulative total of three, therefore be it resolved clauses, so it is actually more than $17.6 million. Mr. Sinclair? The county's local subsidy for two PRTC is increasing from $13.1 million in fiscal 23 to nearly $21 million in fiscal 24. However, PRTC's motor fuels tax estimate generated by Prince William

[00:54:30] County is increasing from $13.7 million to $17.6 million, which is helping to fund that local subsidy increase in fiscal 24 also we are drawing down the county's motor fuels tax fund balance to basically fund the remainder as well as the transient occupancy tax i'm sorry uh there is 150 000 a transient occupancy tax by state code that must be used for public transportation that we are using to fund the wheels to wellness program okay that brings us on to our next 6f

[00:55:10] amendments to the class position classification and pay plan in accordance with the compensation etc etc and this has to do with moving the 15 percent increases up um to april 1st move to approve madam chair second motion made by supervisor bailey seconded by vice chair bode any discussion seeing none please vote vote unanimous next one is 6g authorized contribution

[00:55:46] of fiscal year 2024 operating surplus to maintain required fund balances identified in the principles of sound financial management and i could read that whole thing because it wasn't that long move to approve madam chair second motion made by supervisor bailey seconded by vice chair bode discussion mr weir thank you madam chair as a result of an oversight by the planning office i would actually move that we amend that to allocate twenty thousand dollars of that surplus to the bza for outside legal counsel that was not included in the fr24 budget can someone help me out with

[00:56:24] this from staff please is he correct and is there a problem we did not receive a formal request um but this is to provide outside legal counsel my understanding is the county attorney um please correct me if i'm wrong michelle uh does not represent the uh board of zoning appeals on on cases if the board wishes to do this it would provide a resource to the BZA when

[00:57:01] legal issues arise okay so I appreciate this is coming up at the 11th and a half hour 11th you know 11:59 you know this is a budget amendment that you said it was a mistake in the Planning Department I don't so so please stop and so I'm just trying to understand whether staff supports this idea you know we We haven't done that in the past.

[00:57:23] I know there is some issue with the BZA. You know, we usually don't just add things in for $20,000 here and there at the last minute without sort of vetting them. And so if I could have staff offer some opinion. Mr. Shorter. This is certainly the issue has been raised.

[00:57:47] Our county attorney has made clear in terms of representation. I would say that if the board decides to move in this direction, the funding has been vetted and the cost associated with contracted legal services.

[00:58:04] I will say if the board decides not to move in this direction, then we could certainly come back at a later time with some direction from the board on separate contracted legal services. And I would actually advise that we do this in a way that we would do any other contract and come back to the board for authorization.

[00:58:29] Thank you. Supervisor Weir, your amendment hasn't had a second. No, Chair, I'll second it. Okay. So now we're in discussion on amending the motion to include that $20,000. Supervisor Weir.

[00:58:45] Madam Chair, I realize it's at the 11th hour. However, I was not made aware of it until this morning by the BZA, which I've been informed has been told by planning that they just overlooked it, and apparently this was as a result of a board directive within the last year to explore this and fund it.

[00:59:11] I'll go for a discussion. So my speaker button is frozen. I can't see if there are any other smokers. Mine is too. All of them are. Yeah. So I'll just speak at this moment. I don't, I mean, you're welcome, I would say, give a directive.

[00:59:26] I just don't, I know you said that, but I'd rather just do it properly and have it vetted so we have a directive. This is just for me so I understand it, and I'm not necessarily objecting to it, just at this moment in time it doesn't seem appropriate during the budget adoption process unless I can read something on it and understand the answer to the directive.

[00:59:49] I would ask the county attorney if she's aware of the prior directive. I'm pretty sure it's within the last eight to nine months. Madam Chair, members of the board, the BZA is a quasi-judicial body. Our office represents the county before it, and therefore, ethically, we cannot provide legal advice.

[01:00:08] It's just like another court, quasi-judicial. There have been times that the BZA has approached our office. We can provide generic training to them like we do others, but we cannot provide them legal advice. They have raised the issue to us before, Supervisor Weir.

[01:00:25] I apologize. I don't know if there was a specific directive on it or not. I don't have it at my fingertips right now to search the directive list. We have explained to the BZA that any party that is not happy with it can appeal on up to a court of law.

[01:00:45] This would be like getting legal counsel for the judges in the court. But I do understand these are laypersons that are there, and they take their service very seriously, and they would like some assistance, and unfortunately our office is not able to provide that assistance.

[01:01:01] Madam Chair, if the CXO will follow up on this reasonably shortly, I withdraw my motion. I'm happy to do so. Madam Chair, Supervisor Lawson. I'll withdraw my second if that's necessary, but as I'm listening to this, I'm also thinking of the Board of Equalization, and we have had a need to, and I'll look to help from Ms. Casciotto or Ms. Atreid regarding, that's another quasi, or is it quasi-judicial?

[01:01:34] Where they in the past have wanted help from the county attorney's office who's in a difficult position. So, Mr. Shorter, will you include in these conversations potential legal expenditures for Board of Equalization?

[01:01:51] Madam Chair, members of the board, if I recall correctly, several years ago, there was an issue with the BZA. And they, again, contacted. The BOE. I'm sorry, I apologize, the B's. The BOE, they contacted our office ethically. We could not provide them legal advice.

[01:02:06] And I believe this was probably in 2018 or 2019. The board gave a little amount of fund to provide training for them. It was not legal fees, legal counsel. It was training for them so that they could understand how the various assessment methodology is done.

[01:02:25] I don't recall if that was an ongoing amount. It was at least a one-time training fee that the board provided in 2018 or 2019. Madam Chair and members of the board, I am happy to go back and work with staff and bring this back.

[01:02:41] If it requires an additional contract, i.e. some sort of legal services contract, we'll bring that back for the board's consideration. And I believe there is a contingency fund that the board has access to that we will use as a funding source if the need arises.

[01:02:58] Very good, sir. Thank you very much. So we've had those amendments removed. We can now vote on 6G. Vote unanimous.

[01:03:15] Okay, that moves us on to 6H, resolution to adopt fiscal year 2024 through 2028 five-year plan so move madam chair second motion made by supervisor bailey seconded by vice chair bode any further discussion seeing none please vote motion passes five to three supervisors lawson vega and we're voting nay thank you next

[01:03:51] we have 6i established the board of county supervisors maximum annual compensation effective january 1st 2024 if i can get a motion so move manager second motion made by supervisor angry seconded by supervisor bailey discussion seeing none please vote motion passes five to three supervisors lawson vega and we're voting nay next we're moved on to 6j amend the fiscal year 2024

[01:04:26] fiscal plan to budget appropriate the remaining balance of 997 280841 for encumbered purchase orders, et cetera, et cetera, that we do this at the end of every year. Can I get a motion for 6-J, please?

[01:04:42] So moved. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bodie. Any discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Motion passes, 7-1.

[01:04:59] Supervisor Vega voting nay. Okay, so I think we have a budget adopted. Very good. Thank you, staff, so much. Very exciting, very exciting. Yes, Ms., I'm sorry, we don't allow clapping. I'm sorry, Ms. Karen, Ms. Mills.

[01:05:16] but i feel like clapping too so this is good and it uh time check it's 8 35 um i get the feeling do people still want to go around the horn and make some some announcements i'm going to start down with mr angry and supervisor angry we'll work our way down thank you madam chair i don't know if i ever done this i just want to make my um notice of intent to appoint tiziana botina to the sustainability commission did i ever do that okay i did not okay i believe you have everything you need. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. That's all. Thank you. Supervisor Weir. Yes, ma'am. A couple

[01:05:54] of things. First, I wanted to do this last week and the week before, but I sort of missed the opportunity. With Kim Hosen's passing, the county's lost a voice of preservation, and more importantly, I've lost a friend, confidant, and quite frankly, a damper to my temper when warranted. Kim was a longtime Prince William County resident, 2002 founder and executive of Prince William Conservation Alliance. She was more than just an expert on land use to me, expert on the watershed, birds, butterflies, dragonflies. More importantly, she was a decent,

[01:06:29] very kind, hardworking human being, and she was humble. She preferred to work her magic behind the background, helping others to find their voices for environmental advocacy and letting others take the public hits and be at the tip of the spear. She leaves behind two sons to carry on her legacy of environmental stewardship, and I wish my regards are with them.

[01:06:53] I mean, it's impossible to fully enumerate the ways that Kim guided this county toward preservation and conservation. She never gave up on preserving Merrimack farms and convinced Parks and Rec to plant trees in a wildflower meadow at Silver Lake after Tough Mudder's contract was rescinded.

[01:07:09] She met every challenge with quiet strength, particularly in the last 10 months of her life. While her physical presence is no longer here, the legacy she leaves behind and the seeds She planned to protect Prince William, protect the rural Crescent, implement smart land use policy, and promote sustainable quality communities countywide live on in each and every one of us who had the privilege of knowing her.

[01:07:31] And I'm going to miss her. Above and beyond that, I'll give my notice of intent to issue a directive next week or to consider a directive next week for staff to prepare a draft ordinance to amend Prince William County Code Section 26 Stroke 235A to provide an exception to the moratorium on tax exemptions by designation for charitable groups that provide programs and housing for wounded veterans.

[01:08:03] I'd just like to note that the Haymarket Farmers Market is back up and running every Sunday. I'd like to amend that directive, if I could. Without objection, I'd like to. I know you added in a tax exemption, changed just to bring back an ordinance that did that.

[01:08:20] I'd like to add in an exemption for immigrant organizations that have buildings over 10,000 square feet that serve the community. I don't have the language for that in this directive.

[01:08:39] Clerk's already been provided a copy of. I would certainly welcome an additional directive of similar, but I have not drafted one for that. So it's just a directive. It doesn't have to be perfect. They're coming back with the ordinance, and I would like the ordinance to include, and I'll work with the county attorney's office, you know, nonprofit immigrant organizations that have buildings over 10,000 square feet.

[01:09:00] That's certainly your prerogative. You would have to have the clerk amend the... amend the language prior to next week? I mean, I can send it to you. Well, I'll work with them to work that in for the ordinance.

[01:09:17] Madam Chair, members of the board, Supervisor Ware, I worked with you for a resolution. Yes. And your notice of intent would be for the resolution to be on the agenda for next week. That's different from the directive.

[01:09:33] I'm sorry. It would be a resolution. I was reading the topic. Yes, sir. So that I can work with the chair and the clerk to add another clause to add it to your resolution that would then be on the agenda. That's perfectly fine with me. No directives, thank you.

[01:09:51] Madam Chair. That's what I get for reading the top. Supervisor Franklin. Yeah, more like a comment. So I hear the directive or resolution and then Chair Wheeler jumped in.

[01:10:07] I think we need to slow this down a little bit and talk a little bit more about what type of precedent we're setting because we can all start throwing in organizations that we want to be included for tax-exempt purposes. I mean, I can name a couple, particularly I'm thinking Streetlight Ministries and Woodbridge, but I think we need to have kind of a round-robin discussion about how we want this policy to look moving forward, because I don't want to start picking and choosing organizations.

[01:10:39] When all of these organizations, you know, Willing Warriors, excellent, excellent organization. Shreelite Ministries, excellent, excellent organization. But I don't know if this is the proper precedence to set.

[01:10:55] So I'm not necessarily opposed to kind of what's been thrown out. But I think we need to have a little bit more of a thoughtful discussion about what this is going to look like moving forward. So are we going to all come with 20 organizations we want to throw in? I don't know if that's responsible.

[01:11:13] Is there another way we can support such organizations? Perhaps that's what a directive needs to look like. But I'm not sure if this is the right road to travel, at least not today, without having any type of real discussion about that. And I'm not sure that, you know, tonight is enough time to have that discussion.

[01:11:31] I would like for us to be a little bit more thoughtful in how we go about this discussion. So what I hear you're saying is you would like to vote on his directive or to vote on his... Just a resolution to put it on the agenda. Sure, and what I'd like to do actually is have us hold off until we can have, I don't know if it needs to be a work session, some type of...

[01:11:57] It has to be some type of discussion. This can't be the beginning to whatever type of precedence we're going to set. Supervisor Weir? Madam Chair, I would note that we're already picking winners and losers to a degree in the community partners program.

[01:12:14] And I would note that Streetlight does get money from the community partners program. And because of the way the county has structured the community partners program and placed a moratorium on tax exemptions, which at the end of the day are probably significantly less than the total given to charitable organizations in the community partners program.

[01:12:40] I mean, probably looking at what, north of $2 million goes directly to charitable organizations, select charitable organizations, and most of the charitable organizations that are included do not own real property in the county. I mean, it's a valid point of discussion, but I would suggest that the point in time for that discussion would be when the staff delivers a report and the background to the directive so that we can look at that more um cohesive comprehensively uh all i'm doing is

[01:13:14] getting the ball rolling so it's not a directive it's just a resolution but it's just a resolution to what exactly does it say we don't have a copy i guess that's part of my problem it's a resolution to direct staff to prepare a draft ordinance to amend the prince william county code section regarding uh exception and providing an exception to the moratorium on tax exemptions. It's not without precedent. It has been done before. I think it was done with Usually when we get resolutions on the next week or the next meeting, we pass

[01:13:54] them out and we see them. Do you have copies? I have additional copies here, yes. Okay, well, why don't you pass them out and why don't we talk about this because it doesn't feel like we're approaching it the right way, but I can't quite put my finger on why. Madam Chair. Actually, so Supervisor Bodie, Bailey, Vega, and Franklin want to say things.

[01:14:15] So, Supervisor Bode. Sure. Thank you, Madam Chair. To piggyback off of Supervisor Franklin, I think there should be a discussion about us doing this because I agree there are definitely a lot of deserving organizations for us to look at this.

[01:14:30] But, like, how going back to the Community Partners Program, it's sort of been taken out of our hands as picking and choosing who gets in. It's more of a county-run process where they look at applications that come in and what have you. I think that we should take a step back from having it so the board chooses who does and who doesn't get these because I think there are issues with that no matter how you look at it.

[01:14:54] So that said, I do agree that we should have a discussion about this at a later date. And correct me if I'm wrong, but we don't have a meeting next week. We have a meeting on May 5th, May 9th. So this wouldn't even come up next week. It would be the week after. But I think agreeing with Supervisor Franklin, I think there needs to be a more holistic conversation about how we approach this as opposed to just doing a resolution at a meeting in a couple weeks from now.

[01:15:17] Thank you, Madam Chair. Supervisor Bailey. Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree also. I think what Bob is presenting is an excellent idea because they do great work, but I think we do need to have more in-depth conversation and thought about this because, as he's just reflected upon, we need to look at our community partners as well and understand the county exec had brought that to our attention as well in terms of the other not-for-profits that are serving our community and what that looks like, particularly coming out of COVID.

[01:15:51] And so I think that this is a grand opportunity that Bob is introducing for the board, for the dais, to look at all not-for-profits as it relates to tax exempt and as it relates to how we're spending our funding towards those organizations and arming them to serve at a higher level.

[01:16:10] So I agree there needs to be more of a deeper dive into this before we make a final decision. Supervisor Vega. Thank you, Madam Chair. I, too, agree with what's pretty much been said by those that have spoken before me. We definitely need to have a more in-depth conversation.

[01:16:27] I know that Supervisor Franklin mentioned an organization, but you, Madam Chair, mentioned something broadly. I'd like to also know who you're thinking about. I'm thinking of the CASA building. down at Woodbridge. Okay. And so these are organizations that fund political campaigns from people up on this dais. So to the conversation that we're having right now, why it's important to have an in-depth conversation. I made my sentiments known last week also about using public funds for these charities and why we shouldn't do that because it takes the entire spirit of these charitable organizations. But Supervisor Weir, I think this is something that we have to consider and why I think it's important to further take a deep dive and have the time to

[01:17:07] do so okay supervisor franklin and then supervisor or maybe you'd consider just issuing a directive a broad directive to investigate this issue as opposed to um doing a resolution but i'll turn it back over to supervisor sure sure and and i'll just um you know clarify and i think i did this last week but i think it's necessary to again the difference between a community partner and other organizations we we have community partners to help do work or provide resources that the board itself or the government itself either can't do or can't do well so for instance we have some

[01:17:46] community partners that have feeding programs that they do it on a weekly basis the county doesn't have the ability to do it as often as these organizations right and they can go into various communities and do that. I think ACTS is a community partner. Streetlight Ministries is a community partner, but quite frankly, if they had a tax-exempt status, they would be able to afford to do more with regards to homeless services. So again, I just think we need to have a more well-rounded discussion about what type of organizations are we talking about, what is our

[01:18:20] end goal for including these organizations. And then also, you know, I think we just need to be a little bit more thoughtful, as I've said. Supervisor Weir, then Supervisor Lawson, then Supervisor Angry. Madam Chair, I would simply note that this is a notice on a resolution that staff is free to expand upon, in my view, as they want. This will kick off that discussion.

[01:18:48] If we want to expand it during the discussion of the resolution as to whom we're going to provide funds or who we're going to provide the exemption to, what the impact of that type of exemption is across the board, whether the exemptions provided to real property owning charitable organizations that are physically within the county is the equivalent of the expenditure on the community, the partners program.

[01:19:17] I mean, there's a lot of different aspects to it. I'm simply putting forth this resolution at the next meeting to get this conversation started. This is not a directive for them to actually do it. This is just a resolution for them to put together the information for that.

[01:19:35] I think the time for discussion will be when they bring forth a report. If the board wants to expand it or the board wants to go into a more in-depth study of other charitable organizations, I'll be all in favor of that. But I want to just kick it off with this, and we'll have the opportunity to amend and expand at that meeting.

[01:20:00] Supervisor, it's just that this is to have them do a lot of work to prepare a draft ordinance, And without the background of deciding what we're going to do and how we're going to proceed, it seems like not the most efficient use of resources to have them work on preparing a draft ordinance when we don't even know what the draft ordinance is going to say yet.

[01:20:20] That's the purpose of the draft ordinance. No, that's not how. Madam Chair. Mr. Shorter. Yes. I appreciate very much the conversation that we're having and appreciate the sentiment that the members have shared.

[01:20:40] My preference would be in talking with staff for this to come as a directive. We can analyze the number of nonprofits, the impact of a partial lift of the moratorium, and come back to the board with that analysis, if the board so chooses.

[01:21:04] If it's the chair, maybe I can short-circuit all of this. If it's the board's will, I can change the resolution to a more broad language for all charitable organizations and the language to look at it.

[01:21:22] It's the idea that, Supervisor Weir, it's the idea that you're jumping right into an ordinance as opposed to just having a directive to have staff look at it and come back without, and it's really hard to do an ordinance unless you know what you want to write the ordinance about. I know what I want to do. I'm not trying to be difficult. I know what I want to do. I'm going to let it stand then. It's simply my notice.

[01:21:42] Madam Chair. A supervisor, actually Supervisor Lawson, then Angrier than Bailey. Yeah, I think she said, yeah, and I just want to, because I hear what you're saying, but if you just look at this resolution, I think the key here really is what the CXL just said.

[01:22:00] You really want to go down the road of a directive to study this, because what you're asking is to amend the moratorium to let in. But I will tell you this, you know, we've been out to our willing words. We know that landmass there. We know the landmass at You for Tomorrow.

[01:22:17] There's a definition that needs to be discussed on what it looks like. And to Madam Chair's point of adding in an organization like Casa in Action and to Supervisor Franklin's point of her organization, the point is they're all different levels of all that.

[01:22:37] So it's not going to be – this is what's going to happen. If we come back with a resolution for this, your resolution could get shot down. I think what you really want to do is come in with a directive so they can bring all this back so we can define what it is we're looking for. Because I think in the end, and we'll find through staff's analysis, that you're going to look at large land parcels to see how we're going to adjust.

[01:22:57] I mean, your biggest one here that you brought up to us is our Willing Warriors, and they've got a lot of land. Very similar to Youth for Tomorrow. Now, Youth for Tomorrow or Willing Warriors? Willing Warriors. Well, you know, I've seen the homes out there and the main campus.

[01:23:13] My point is, I believe what you're going down the road is better as a directive to determine what it is that we're trying to add to this opportunity. Otherwise, you could lose this. I just want to point that out to you. Okay. Supervisor Lawson.

[01:23:29] Thank you. So, a couple points. First of all, CASA does not fund this campaign up here. So, Supervisor Vega, to be clear, I'm not a recipient. Actually, I don't think you are either. But it seems like everybody's kind of ganging up on Supervisor Weir.

[01:23:50] And Chair Wheeler, you just piled on. And because you did, the rest of us were like, wait a minute. Well, maybe we want in on this. And I think that that's fair discussion. Like Supervisor Franklin kicked off and it's continued on.

[01:24:08] But Chair Wheeler, you jumped right on that bandwagon. So make sure that everybody knows that. What I would like Ms. Robel to do is at some point maybe brief the board. It doesn't have to be tonight.

[01:24:24] But Youth for Tomorrow keeps being referenced, and there's a reason why. Youth for Tomorrow, if I recall correctly, and correct me if I'm wrong, Ms. Robel, and maybe you should put it in writing to the board as well, the state had exempted them. And then they had a change in their documents and their title, the name of their organization, to a foundation.

[01:24:47] and that's there was a hiccup which is why the county was taxing them and it was basically an administrative change that had tax implications that they didn't realize until after after the fact so youth for tomorrow to be clear the state had granted them tax exemption status before the board's moratorium so there were some nuances to that if i recall correctly and i'll look to the county attorney to madam chair members of the board i'm right the state originally was the one

[01:25:25] that gave the tax exemption by designations and then the state determined that they would no longer be giving those exemptions and authorized localities to do it prince william county authorized that and started providing tax exemptions by designations to multiple organizations and the board then determined that there needed to be a moratorium in place due to the implications that moratorium was put in place i believe it was around it was in 2019 it was the end of 2019 youth for tomorrow had originally received their tax exemption by designation from the state

[01:26:03] They did change ownerships to put each of the parcels into an LLC. The change in ownership did away with the state's tax exemption. So therefore, the board reopened it to allow the only subset of those that previously received state exemption.

[01:26:23] So that was a very small subset that the board opened it up and did that. So the moratorium is still in place. If I recall correctly, in 2019, we lifted it very briefly for that subset.

[01:26:39] You passed an emergency ordinance, and then you passed an ordinance to allow that, to allow the finance department to accept those applications for only those entities that were non-profits that previously received an exemption from the state. I knew you would remember it better than me, but there were definitely nuances to it.

[01:26:57] So it sounds like supervisor wants to leave his resolution under his supervisor's time next time. That's fine. We don't have to necessarily, I mean, supervisor angry is right. We don't have to accept it.

[01:27:12] But that's fine if you want to leave it. That's your prerogative. I sort of cut you off during your supervisor's time. Supervisor Weir, did you have anything else you wanted to talk about? You probably have a couple minutes left. I just wanted to, last thing I had was to note that the Haymarket Farmers Market is reopening and will be at Sundays at 9.

[01:27:32] Very good. Thank you. Supervisor Lawson. Thank you, Madam Chair. Oh, go ahead. I just want to make sure that we're all clear on the next steps here. So are we providing some additional analysis? No. Supervisor Weir wants to continue his resolution.

[01:27:50] That's his right. He's passed it out. I'd like to have it as amended with the two, and then we can vote on it on the 9th. And if we don't, if we vote it down, we could then issue a directive for what we want, maybe. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I also echo the sentiment of Kim Hosen's passing, and honestly, right now, my thoughts aren't collected to give her the recognition that she deserves,

[01:28:26] and I'll just give the board a heads up that at some point in the near future, I would like us to commend the work that she did in her memory, and I don't know what exactly my plan is, but I'm certainly going to do something to honor and cherish the life of Kim Hosen and everything that she contributed to Prince William County. Thank you. Vice Chair Brody. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just ditto. I appreciate that. The only thing I have is I would like to issue a directive for staff to look at business

[01:29:05] licensing. I know that Michelle Atrey, we've talked quite a bit about B-POL and the licensing thresholds, and we had a constituent slash employee talk a little bit about that tonight. So if I could have staff go back, look at how we do business licensing, those thresholds for what qualifies for gaining those funds and what have you to have staff analyze it and come back to us. Thank you, Madam Chair.

[01:29:27] Thank you, Supervisor Bode. Vice Chair Bode. Supervisor Bailey. Man, that was short, Kenny. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. Just wanted to just highlight a couple of things.

[01:29:44] I was very excited. We didn't get a chance to do Supervisor's Time last night, I mean last week, but very excited to watch one of our own Delegate, Breonna Sewell, at a chamber event on the 12th talking about policy as it relates to the General Assembly and the things that we are doing in collaboration with our delegation here in the county.

[01:30:07] And her presentation was excellent. And to participate with Madam Chair in the Iftar dinner that she gave on the same night, it was an excellent example of collaboration and community working together and breaking bread together.

[01:30:22] And I wanted to remind the community that I'm putting together my mental health task force to address mental health in our county and invite people to join.

[01:30:39] On the 13th, we had our own Lisa Madren come and talk to the committee about the needs in the county. And so we want to progress as we talk about the Crisis Receiving Center here in the county and how we serve. And so it's very important that we have community participation.

[01:30:57] Let's see, on the 15th, my staff attended for me the post-session delegation meeting that we had here in the chamber. And I just want to encourage the community to please come out when those meetings are being held, just to understand the workings of the county and state delegation and how that works.

[01:31:23] So when we're making decisions, for example, on the budget, there's a clear understanding on what that means. On the 21st, thanks to Tom Dombrowski, Tom Smith, and their team, I had an amazing time at Powell's Creek, in Phase 1 of Powell's Creek, in understanding how they've taken the time with the funding that we provided and restoring that area between Montclair and Four Seasons.

[01:31:53] I learned so much on that day, on last Friday, and it's in respect of Earth Day and had a wonderful time on Saturday planting trees with Forest Park High School and my school board representative, Justin Wilk, as we respected Earth Day as well.

[01:32:11] Today I had a really good conversation with our Chamber of Commerce Chair of, President, excuse me, Bob Sweeney. And I just want to say welcome aboard, Bob, to a wonderful county, and I look forward to the vision that you have for us.

[01:32:29] And also participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Madam Chair for Did Lake, who really takes a good look at our adults and children with differences, not just disability, but differences. And so they're doing honorable work here in our county.

[01:32:47] Upcoming events, I look forward to participating in the Lake Ridge Rotary Celebration Luncheon, and I'm going to get most of the tips this time. Watch out, Elijah. That's going to be fun. And also, I want to give honor to a gentleman that really spent the majority of his professional life with our independent, nontraditional school, and that's Dr. Robert L. Icorn, and we're going to be honoring him tomorrow in a celebration for the giftedness and the service that he gave to our children at the independent, nontraditional schools.

[01:33:28] May 13th is our annual third Mental Health Awareness 5K Walk, and I encourage everyone to show up at Locashade Park. It will be from 10 to 2 p.m. This is an activity that is sponsored out of the Potomac District but for the county as we continue to address mental health and we continue to partner with the Crisis Stabilization Center or Crisis Receiving Center.

[01:33:55] And then on May 20th, I will be participating in partnership with the county clerk's office and hosting a community resource event at Fortuna Plaza from 10 to 2 p.m. And that's all I have, Madam Chair. And my condolences and love to the Kim Hosen family.

[01:34:14] Thank you, Supervisor Bailey. Supervisor Franklin. Sure. Just very quickly, on the 17th, I spoke at a meeting for the Woodbridge Women's Club held at Acclaim in Belmont Bay. It's a great time to give an update on what I've been working on in the Woodbridge District and want to thank the Woodbridge Women's Club for their invitation and all the impactful work that they actually do throughout the community.

[01:34:41] And then on April 13th, I visited the adult literacy class at Marum School Hills Elementary School and enjoyed talking to the participants as well as the class leaders. So thank you to that group for what they do. I do just want to kind of end our discussion about some of the nonprofits and just say that, you know, we have so many incredible in this community.

[01:35:05] And really, I know this board, if we could help support every single last one of them, we would. but I do hope that we could have more consideration with regards to this discussion because I think that there is a way that we can all reach an agreement that makes sense.

[01:35:25] And so I would just like for my colleagues to continue to be thinking along those lines. And also I just want to point out the difference between an ordinance and a directive. You jump straight into an ordinance, I mean, you're voting to make those changes. You know, a directive gives us the opportunity to investigate and research and bring back some options.

[01:35:46] So I hope my colleagues can think about that a little bit more. And I'm looking forward to having this discussion in the future. So thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Vega. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to go ahead and start off by issuing the directive that I advised you all I would be issuing last week.

[01:36:06] And this is in consultation with the finance office and the county attorney's office. So without objection, I would like to direct the county executive to research and make recommendations concerning the adoption of an ordinance pursuant to Section 58.1-3228.2 of the Code of Virginia to levy a tax rate for surviving spouses of members of the armed forces killed in the line of duty.

[01:36:33] She also attended several events, but it's been a few weeks here and there since those events happened. But I do also want to send all of my love and support to Kim's children. I do want to say that one of the very exciting things that we were able to work together on was putting Dove's Landing in a conservation easement.

[01:36:50] She spoke to me about that when I was just a candidate, and to see it come full circle was something really special. Not only was she an advisor on a lot of the issues to preserve the beauty of Prince William County, but it was also a great honor to call her a friend. And finally, Mr. Shorter, just want to let you know that I've been closely monitoring the emails that have been sent to Wade in regards to the data center working group.

[01:37:13] I know that when we talked about enacting that group, we wanted to make sure that it was fair and that it represented members of the community that have been negatively impacted by the issue of noise. And so I'm going to go ahead and say that the optics appear, and I will say appear, not so favorable only because I know that there was a list that was shared where it shows that it is heavily skewed in favor of the data center industry and stacked with staff and not very representative of members of the community.

[01:37:41] And so I know, Wade, that you responded and you said that the final list has not been completed, but I just want to let you know that I'm, you know, very closely monitoring the situation and that I hope that once that list is finalized, it reflects the original intention that this board made you all aware of.

[01:38:00] And that's all I have, Madam Chair. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, I'm next. Sorry. I was thinking I was coming back around. I'm just going to go over some of the things I've done since our last meeting and since We didn't do supervisor's time last week.

[01:38:16] You know, I just want to say on April 12th, and Supervisor Bailey was there, I hosted my office's second annual Iftar dinner celebration to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. And I thank the staff that came. It was really some good food, and it was great having the community. And on Thursday, the April 13th, I got to speak at a celebration, a ribbon-cutting of the remodeled AWS Think Big Space at River Oaks Elementary School.

[01:38:39] It was really awesome. Um, on April 17th, I was also at the Woodbridge Women's Club, uh, speaking to them, which was great to get out in the community and tell them about what's happening at Prince William County. I was also able to, uh, speak at the Mashad, uh, I'll say in Peace House, Adhan, which was a, uh, public call to prayer in the town of Occoquan.

[01:39:02] Um, Supervisor Bailey and I on April 15th did the cleanup of Dumfries with Keep Prince William Beautiful. Yep. And we, we, we picked up stuff around Dumfries. That was a lot of fun. I was with Supervisor Balin, Mayor Wood. Last week I was able to present awards at the Local Optimist International Oratorical Competition.

[01:39:22] That was great. Those people are so inspiring. Let's see. Oh, I stopped by the Legal Services of Northern Virginia Open House at its new expanded Prince William County office location in the city of Manassas. Wonderful organization doing things throughout Northern Virginia.

[01:39:37] Great new space. I got to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the Virginia Federation of National and Active Retired Federal Employees Association Woodbridge Chapter 1270, and I got to present the President James Little with a commendation celebrating the chapter's accomplishments for 50 years.

[01:39:56] On Friday, I attended the Eid al-Iftar prayer at the Muslim Association of Virginia's Dar al-Noor Community Center, which was also a wonderful, a great Eid celebration. Saturday, I had the wonderful time at the Prince William County's Girls Fast Pitch Softball League opening day ceremony.

[01:40:13] The rain held off, and today I was with Supervisor Bailey as they cut the ribbon on the really beautiful 44,000-square-foot Did Lake facility that they've just built. Did Lake is such a wonderful part of our community. I'm just really grateful that they're expanding and going to have even more services throughout the nation, really.

[01:40:36] And last but not least, I want to take a moment to recognize Ms. Casciato. For those who don't remember Ms. Casciato's last day with us, she is coasting off into retirement is, I believe, Friday. And so, you know, I just want to personally thank, and on behalf of the board, Ms. Casciato's long service to this county because you have been such a part of the executive staff team for so many years and really just been a wonderful, wonderful employee.

[01:41:14] And so you will be missed. Big shoes to fill, all that institutional knowledge that we're losing. But I just want to wish you the best, and I just want to recognize that we'll miss you, but I'm excited that you're going on to retirement.

[01:41:33] That sounds really appealing. Anyway, thank you.

[01:41:45] I know, the attention's hard, but thank you. Anyway, with that, it's 9-15.

[01:42:01] I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Second. Motion made by Supervisor Bailey, seconded by Vice Chair Bode. Any further discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Motion passes, 7-1.

[01:42:19] Supervisor Vega voting no. Thank you all. - Thank you.

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