[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6574739,"mediaKeyId","5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7","parentId",5063484,"title","Manassas residents press council over proposed FY2026 tax, utility and budget increases","audioSeconds",1646,"startMs",2585000,"endMs",4231000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7&start=2585&end=4231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7/thumbnail_2585000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574739/Virginia/Manassas-residents-press-council-over-proposed-FY2026-tax-utility-and-budget-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574739-b38717bd4997814d6a69a9ddc3a8918d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131731&Signature=KyHfBgERyxmTx~gTrVkemdEB21wd73CiYJTnvnXMZvZ6VlwgaVYOvcX8L74l6lYpF8qFsElesgjcjv6956zgngdVTDBjGsv82ubBbNyiHU5scWCHVlTY~mnczYa6fkVdPMeTM28vOzpuOOufAj9YjJWJ2a6qb9xGuay~36gf1KTOxYicod6GEwxjgYbvTtg9YDVXToQvd-oXHOOs4DOHg1fAOCDpgVZadpcXWQH-LHHkeoxd92YVKSYNDRwvIFJgoEyFbcwq7wcgkHNgTynNa8KIFv38j9hbAuqCwTPDuUESjEiEsSYITbFKtHXUCQRvE2vN2k4BHbhVMOGMWtoAqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Manassas City","date","2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","article","Manassas City Council on April 28 held consecutive public hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 real property tax increase, proposed personal property and utility rate changes, and the city’s operating budget and five‑year capital improvement plan. Dozens of residents testified, many urging the council to reduce or delay rate increases and to prioritize relief for residents, school staff and vulnerable households.

The hearings matter because the measures would affect the city’s property owners and utility customers directly, and the council framed the rate proposals as necessary to preserve city services and the long‑term financial stability of municipal utilities. Assistant staff told the council the electric utility has been charging rates below cost for several years and recommended multi‑year increases to restore sustainability; staff cited an illustrative plan that included roughly 8.5% increases in electric rates in successive years to close the gap.

Speakers at the hearings described the cumulative burden of higher real estate assessments, rising utility bills and other cost increases. “I have a limited monthly pension,” said one resident, arguing the combined increases make living in the city difficult. Several teachers and school support staff urged the council to preserve contingency funds and to prioritize pay increases for school employees, saying some local educators cannot afford to live nearby. A school bookkeeper asked councilors to “invest in your students” and specifically requested a $1.7 million contingency earmark for schools referenced during public comment.

Several residents asked the council to reconsider the tax treatment of large commercial uses. Bill Backus urged the council to raise the hospitality/utility tax applied to data centers — saying the city’s $2.60 per‑unit figure (as described by a commenter) is lower than Prince William County’s recently approved rate — and proposed increasing that rate toward the county’s level so the revenue burden on residential and small commercial customers would ease.

Others noted sharp increases in demand for social services: volunteers at local food pantries told the council they are seeing hundreds of family visits in a single day. Several renters and fixed‑income residents said higher bills and taxes are already straining household budgets. Multiple commenters asked the council to stretch utility rate increases over a longer period; one resident who consulted city staff recommended a five‑to‑ten year phased approach to lessen near‑term impacts.

Councilors and staff repeatedly said they were balancing the need to maintain reliable utilities and public services with the desire to moderate near‑term rate shocks. The council took the procedural step of closing the public hearings by motion; each closure was passed by roll call. No final tax rate or adopted budget ordinance was recorded in the transcript portion provided; the hearings were part of the formal budget process and the council signaled the matters would be considered in upcoming budget work sessions and votes.

Residents who testified also proposed revenue or cost‑saving ideas — including resale of city mulch or selling reclaimed materials, reassessing large commercial properties, and modest targeted fees — and asked the council to increase transparency and public engagement during budget deliberations. Officials said staff had been reachable for follow‑up questions (the transcript records calls with Assistant City Manager Matthew Siri and Utility Finance Manager Anna Davis) and encouraged continued input as the council completes its budget decisions.

The hearings also produced repeated appeals to protect affordability and to preserve green space and community facilities. Several residents urged the council to prioritize affordable housing efforts and to use one‑time surplus funds to support services rather than raising recurring rates. The council did not adopt final FY2026 rates during the meeting; the public hearings were closed and will feed into subsequent motions and formal readings recorded in later agenda actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Manassas City Council 4/28/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Manassas City Council on April 28 held consecutive public hearings on proposed FY2026 tax, utility and budget measures as residents urged the council to ease impacts on teachers, renters and fixed‑income households.","taxTitle","Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia","taxId",56304,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574718,"Baldwin Elementary principal outlines ‘Baldwin Gardens’ partnership with Leadership Prince William and Micron",324,1695000,2019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7&start=1695&end=2019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7/thumbnail_1695000.jpg","/articles/6574718/Virginia/Baldwin-Elementary-principal-outlines-Baldwin-Gardens-partnership-with-Leadership-Prince-William-and-Micron","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574718-1ddc4c546d09a002ade8a93edd0e6503/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131731&Signature=BAvf3WfKsbqvqwqOKLR2SuPCeCvykyBjFMg1t22SrP4TwS6UqRC3Igh3LxTsanUEuKWfd9RvmU8jLwZiGy9-uwYVb15trdTIE7nhcY7o6oofcYolvGo2IpC5aklcDlfzj~HxwODOrKy9huFhIjUsEo9Yp5BdPP7m1vZLvGf6T27IRVy~U6PJboL4QrQRbewJ8qyv6onR9Qzmb80m6HMk6JMZK1EInO~YFI9wHXx3Kb3ACBaOM~lSo3CPCVv88c5Z7P5bt9lj6auKfYVnO6H3k4Xmt64cFlEkvOXVXNrGBrA~fOR14vRqT24qMvrgM4DQrnca4M2r47dfTGhjvWbFVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dave Rupert, principal of Baldwin Elementary School, presented to City Council on April 28 about “Baldwin Gardens,” a new school and community garden developed in partnership with Leadership Prince William and Micron. Rupert said Baldwin Elementary serves pre‑K through fourth grade and enrolls roughly 695 students.

Rupert described the garden as an extension of Project Lead The Way classroom work and said it uses indigenous plants — including milkweed and pollinator‑friendly species — to create hands‑on learning opportunities, promote nutrition and support mental‑health benefits for students. The project includes an outdoor second‑floor classroom and plans for herb beds (basil, thyme) and a link to Metz Middle School’s food pantry so produce grown can support local pantry needs.

Rupert thanked community donors — SiteOne among those named — and invited council members to visit the garden. Councilmembers who attended the garden ceremony were acknowledged. Several council members and attendees praised the project as a community education and engagement opportunity; no council action was required.","Principal Dave Rupert described a new school garden project at Baldwin Elementary that connects Project Lead The Way classroom modules to outdoor native plantings, pollinators and the Metz Middle School food pantry.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574723,"Manassas proclaims May 15 Bike to Work Day; city lists May bicycle events",199,1337000,1536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7&start=1337&end=1536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7/thumbnail_1337000.jpg","/articles/6574723/Virginia/Manassas-proclaims-May-15-Bike-to-Work-Day-city-lists-May-bicycle-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574723-6c4b2dd7e5c69767edd2657dfa98cfa4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131731&Signature=NdsNNgoDtp8RWq07~8np-4vV5TTOzHL4oify97FtdCYRYtmPoyMaJc~2APdFc-lQlSX0e99S2NGmEjVqgxpDWwLrSY7xBx~DyvVAzb4457b9sUUFQ3Md6PDIWbRUBgDsXq3aDn1AVWr7bMcT1413e1bQPnSdGCNP1w4CCWiFbUCbYrYS6O9ns5qH9YSsGwaZirOCTWzz2BOTfZY~EcVm2WR7MiA4e65lOXdh6UVgrjiIOe6Xn-LUPbZ4cOAV1pjbOQGT7~TF8UVuTrBWvb~pzQL2X15YUwift~HQlgdDzJCsqmRLHqZPAU7Rq4EttFUR6S5U3zQEO0MohsYrDtEbVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Michelle Davis Younger read a proclamation at the April 28 council meeting declaring Thursday, May 15, 2025, as Bike to Work Day in the City of Manassas. The proclamation referenced the city’s participation in regional bicycling efforts and the city’s bronze Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists (June 2023).

City staff and volunteers listed planned activities for Bike Month, including a VRE station pit stop on May 15 from 6 to 9 a.m., a bike rodeo for children on May 16 hosted by the Manassas City Police, a family ride on May 17 beginning at Dean Park and multiple outreach events at the Farmer’s Market and community rides through the month of May. Staff encouraged residents to visit biketoworkmetrodc.org and the city website for registration and details.

Council members and staff said the pit stops and shirt giveaways are free and that involvement ranges from casual “bike to VRE” commutes to family rides and learning classes. The mayor and staff urged participation to promote multimodal transportation and to support the city’s ongoing mobility planning.","Mayor Michelle Davis Younger proclaimed Thursday, May 15, 2025 as Bike to Work Day in Manassas and city staff outlined bike month events, pit stops and community rides.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574728,"Manassas Crime Solvers asks for community donations and tips to support anonymous tipline",545,775000,1320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7&start=775&end=1320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7/thumbnail_775000.jpg","/articles/6574728/Virginia/Manassas-Crime-Solvers-asks-for-community-donations-and-tips-to-support-anonymous-tipline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574728-682100344e365de85ebb8215a85b9586/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131731&Signature=hHthYQe5BbMSgv0DS9qPuZ2xrj9WtwPpVuxU0HgDqUjnJvsW-pXRdV3~Mx~Kz44HobVo15M4k4FANvsErXa52usOT8stIxcgLC~IMYWNDmUKvGDx31EFHI1Y9BSegdAVXufnbe2hFJz8FOfnHm465-Rebubw4FGsb3kzkIu-el70ZB4IQc~EJH4V~ILrEQ1kRaF6acIriU4Ezi-DWvkOWYNm-W0Vh7oidcAHPE28nMSbs3NlnuBrk64Rz-HZpiZ2fne9LJoUjHGagPvgOYP2h3swilZKe4sCM1h0HTPSXf5315KDrtbFBxIC8iTtXT1XLU2y5pn6NpnPWx-cz0-8bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volunteers from Manassas City Crime Solvers presented to City Council on April 28, explaining the local Crime Solvers program’s history, operations and volunteer fundraising needs. The group described how anonymous tips are submitted, how tipsters are assigned identification numbers, and how rewards are paid if a tip leads to an arrest.

Presenters said the local Crime Solvers group began serving Manassas in 1987 and later expanded to include Manassas Park. A speaker noted that legislative protections for tipsters and program volunteers have been enacted to preserve anonymity and protect boards from being compelled to disclose tip information in court. The program operates as a 501(c)(3) and is funded entirely by donations from individuals, organizations and businesses; speakers encouraged donations and local publicity to increase tip volume.

The Crime Solvers representative described operational details: tips may be submitted via a P3 web portal or a tipline and are forwarded to law enforcement; tipsters receive an identification number and, if the tip leads to chargeable arrests, the board evaluates and issues cash rewards (speakers said rewards can be up to $1,000). Volunteers also do outreach at community events and maintain signage across the city and Manassas Park to publicize the tipline.

Council members thanked the volunteers; there was no council vote attached to the presentation. Volunteers distributed promotional materials and asked the city for help increasing visibility, including stickers for municipal vehicles and donations to sustain reward payouts.","Volunteers from Manassas City Crime Solvers explained how their anonymous tip line works, the program's history and how residents can donate or pass along tipline information to aid police investigations.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574733,"Votes at a glance: consent agenda, zoning, airport rules and a landscape grant approved",4149,2464000,6613000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7&start=2464&end=6613","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063484-bf5a9aecc1c3b7289b4a07df8a6a1ff7/thumbnail_2464000.jpg","/articles/6574733/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-consent-agenda-zoning-airport-rules-and-a-landscape-grant-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574733-69e430136522995216d618e78672a905/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131731&Signature=KexeciG1f0bARj~NiI3UptDdIBKNb69v1B0oAAHsRGVHFmazauQ455wy1exs2XzFUN2WEsXdod1gwuq1eabDC-Hz4rD-lc1~V2MtjCw2twz8D8XR2TlKtJdb3yQmRJSf7sIVws75WuuXdQiTMk0qO20j7VgddcoMDo1b4u6Y6k8AZwAwdpdJBvc6PGEejv7u-T73KqAJPtKqcHL4Giswbr42CdAR7Op563p1CHj-dqRr3cfWHh0~6gf79OwWMPRkC801GkAhVzmPjibVuq6kXFopzpSMQvHn5U2E5u2jbl~fQFkCee1ZgJfBBqpDeNmlDCG92QieYn8-Z1y~3UjX7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Manassas City Council approved a series of routine and substantive items during its April 28 meeting. The measures passed by majority roll call included the consent agenda, a special use permit for an adult day care, a city‑initiated rezoning for an office building, updated airport rules and minimum standards, a landscape grant for a historic property and several appointments to city boards and commissions.

Key actions recorded in the meeting transcript:

- Consent agenda: Vice Mayor Wolf moved to adopt the consent agenda and dispense with ordinance readings; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. The transcript records unanimous approval.

- Resolution R‑2025‑709 (special use permit): Council approved a special use permit to allow an adult day care center at a commercial center on Stonewall Road (item introduced by staff as resolution 2025‑709). The motion was made by Councilwoman Vasquez Luna and seconded by Councilman Smith; the motion carried by roll call.

- Ordinance (rezoning) 2025‑710: A city‑initiated zoning update removed an obsolete I‑2 heavy industrial designation and replaced it with business office zoning for an existing office building. The ordinance passed on first reading after a motion by Councilmember Ocina and a second; Planning Commission and staff recommended approval.

- Airport rules and minimum standards (Resolutions R‑2025‑764 and R‑2025‑765): Council approved updated Manassas Regional Airport Rules and Regulations and Minimum Standards for Aeronautical Services and Activities. Staff said the updates are routine five‑year reviews; the airport commission recommended approval. Both resolutions passed by roll call votes.

- Landscape grant (R‑2025‑770): Council approved a $6,265 landscape grant for 9403 Battle Street (a historic property) to fund backyard improvements visible from Battle Street. The motion passed unanimously by roll call.

- Appointments (R‑2025‑788): Council made multiple appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions, including Architectural Review, Beautification, Airport Commission, Social Services and the Utility Commission. The motion to approve the slate passed by roll call.

The votes recorded in the transcript show consistent support across the council for these items; staff presentations indicated that several of the measures were routinely vetted by the appropriate commissions and recommended for approval. Several items — especially the airport standards and the rezoning — were described by staff as city‑initiated or part of routine regulation updates.","The Manassas City Council approved the consent agenda and several resolutions and ordinances on April 28, including a special use permit for an adult day care, a rezoning, updates to airport rules and minimum standards, a landscape grant and multiple board appointments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manassas residents press council over proposed FY2026 tax, utility and budget increases

Baldwin Elementary principal outlines ‘Baldwin Gardens’ partnership with Leadership Prince William and Micron

Manassas proclaims May 15 Bike to Work Day; city lists May bicycle events

Manassas Crime Solvers asks for community donations and tips to support anonymous tipline

Votes at a glance: consent agenda, zoning, airport rules and a landscape grant approved