[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6428083,"mediaKeyId","5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54","parentId",5906989,"title","Prince William supervisors ratify amended firefighters’ contract after 4–2 vote; county finance office flags multi‑year costs","audioSeconds",2020,"startMs",5151000,"endMs",7171000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54&start=5151&end=7171","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54/thumbnail_5151000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6428083/Prince-William-County/Virginia/Prince-William-supervisors-ratify-amended-firefighters-contract-after-42-vote-county-finance-office-flags-multiyear-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428083-5cb413834b0def6661d376b8a4230e97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984879&Signature=l~dKEX0oGzBVhBoImX9DP9SjY22420oWVAD7z1L-WE7hueC21AklZ~DwGQimz1pERfLHHO~GA6wYFGWmPeY86Qy7XFepLH0C94eIAL3xI2qeJhwWoDYPGKUcgXb7Mbi29gCOa3o3pmNtOth9~BkW7CRVIYDUfwpVty1tHCgtLcSKqfL~4ms0yxux98KPmOAjwxlAbrKFXdvOXsSh~KJeAcTmJyo292wiHiw9AbmV4jrt4vffFW00DdCsYdpEssQnoIf6t2ZiPJGEqBW1J03JRT5uzvetYu3qU5x4ZOqrdOrdizmRW8V3BCKNW537Cq1Ij-Yx7mSOQKeYbMZbUWLlBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince William County","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 4–2 on Oct. 7 to ratify an amended collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), advancing salary structure changes and new specialty pay for county firefighters and paramedics.

The agreement, which the union membership ratified Aug. 14, updates step increases, creates several stipends and adds new pay differentials for specific duties. \"We're here today to request that the board ratify the amended collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Fire Fighters and the county,\" Senior Deputy County Attorney Meghan Kelly said as she opened staff's presentation.

County budget officials said the package is not currently in the adopted five‑year plan and will require appropriation by the board during budget development. \"In fiscal year 2027 the estimated cost of all these amendments is estimated to be just over $3,000,000,\" Dave Sinclair, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told supervisors. Sinclair said the total programmatic cost rises to about $5.8 million by FY 2028 and—when combined with previously approved staffing to support a 50‑hour average work week—would require about $9.7 million in new budget authority in FY 2027 and roughly $11.4 million in FY 2028. His office calculated a cumulative four‑year cost (FY25–FY28, including previously approved items) of roughly $80.9 million.

The contract’s monetary changes include:
- Fiscal 2027: a 4% annual step increase for steps 1–4; a one‑time lump sum payment equal to 3% of base salary for employees at the top step.
- Fiscal 2028: a 2% market adjustment; an increase in the step‑0→1 progression to 5% and step‑4→5 progression to 4%; topped‑out employees again receive a one‑time 3% lump sum on their merit date.
- New or increased specialty pay: an on‑call compensation formula (compensating half an hour at 1.5× the base hourly rate for each 12‑hour on‑call period), an increase to field training officer pay, technical rescue and hazardous‑materials stipends rising from $1,500 to $2,000 annually, a new $2,000 fire marshal stipend, and a one‑time $500 referral bonus for recruitment after a candidate completes probation.

Fire Chief Tom LaBelle told the board his department remains on track to meet the contract’s operational assumptions, namely the plan for a 50‑hour average work schedule. \"We're in line to achieve the July date for heading to the 50‑hour work week,\" LaBelle said, adding that a planning committee will recommend the new schedule structure early next year so employees have about a year’s notice.

Board debate split largely along fiscal and stewardship lines. Supervisor Andre Angry said the package was unaffordable and questioned operational efficiency in the fire system, adding, \"This is insane,\" and voting against ratification. Supervisor Margaret Franklin and others said the package was necessary to recruit and retain public safety personnel—arguing the county competes with other Northern Virginia and regional employers for trained firefighters and paramedics.

County attorneys and staff emphasized the ratification is subject to the board’s later budget appropriations. \"It is contingent upon appropriation by the Board of County Supervisors as part of the budget,\" Sinclair said when asked how the county would fund the agreement.

The board recorded the vote as 4 in favor and 2 opposed; two supervisors voted no and one supervisor was absent. The board’s approval makes the tentative agreement effective only after the required fiscal‑impact review and formal ratification action taken at this meeting; implementation depends on future budget appropriations.

What’s next
County staff said the financial impact will be incorporated into the FY 2027 proposed budget and five‑year plan. Staff also said negotiations with other bargaining units continue and that the county is conducting broader compensation and classification reviews for general government positions.

Ending
The amended CBA modifies pay progression and specialty pay for IAFF‑represented employees and carries multi‑year budget implications county staff said will be addressed during FY 2027 budget development. The board’s ratification advances the contract but leaves funding decisions to the upcoming budget process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Supervisors Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 4–2 on Oct. 7 to ratify an amended collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters, approving stepped pay increases, new specialty pay and several stipends that county staff said will add millions to the county’s multi‑year budget.","taxTitle","Prince William County, Virginia","taxId",21018,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428072,"Board votes to disband Data Center Oversight advisory group after divided debate",426,13534000,13960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54&start=13534&end=13960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54/thumbnail_13534000.jpg","/articles/6428072/Prince-William-County/Virginia/Board-votes-to-disband-Data-Center-Oversight-advisory-group-after-divided-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428072-453380ead4b807ac4583e82a0d729e32/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984879&Signature=C5sn~CyQkds-LSy-8u4PntOjVrmEyXHFOZYhjnawhFKg6bfz9e5OZ9O~j1qbRqQL3pSBVIypJZjAzvIde9TopgoZF0ZFwY9q7eEt1opm1CllKyHTJoKHkQ5ff-YNgOMdhQYR7ivrYLRzvMUqu6vVSWyto26U5EC9yCnUj3nXhdoXcSkITMYE0LAqsHSE~taUJUXP6Z~GDaVc~ILvdNNesQTAdNH4WemaqoO5q~RyogPg-nA-N3kw9IjmIaD5-un9viTyfFllMoVJW73vs19VSs3EIPMv6anX~SBQlLW75QkGAFkVNa8QEehEcmbb4uLUfHGWILOUH-er6JKCHEFljA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted on Oct. 7 to disband the Data Center Oversight advisory group (DCOAG), a volunteer body created to gather resident input on data‑center siting and impacts. The motion passed after a heated exchange among supervisors about the group’s effectiveness and role.

Supervisor Andre Angry, who proposed disbanding the group, told the board the advisory body had completed substantial work and that continuing it was not productive. \"They have literally put together a game plan that we have listened to for 2 years and literally these 3 items... we would have had the hearing for the noise ordinance today,\" Angry said during the meeting. He argued moving forward with other county actions—ordinance updates, permitting changes and enforcement—was the next step.

Other supervisors, including Suwesra Vega, urged caution. Vega said the group was formed to give voice to residents living near data‑center developments and that disbanding it now would silence a constituency still coping with new applications. \"We have given folks the opportunity to be a part of the decision making process and to advise us,\" she told colleagues, and asked Angry to withdraw the directive. When he declined, the board converted the directive into a motion and voted; the final tally was 4 in favor, 2 opposed. Two supervisors voted no and one supervisor was absent.

What the vote does
The board’s action removes the county‑created advisory forum that had met during the past two years to advise staff and provide recommendations on noise, buffer and land‑use concerns tied to data‑center development. County staff will continue work on discrete regulatory items—such as possible noise ordinance changes and code updates—through normal departmental channels and future board work sessions.

Context
Data‑center projects have been a source of repeated public hearings, technical analysis and civic debate in Prince William County. Residents who live near proposed or operating facilities have raised concerns about noise, traffic, light, and compatibility with nearby housing. The advisory group had been one of several channels for residents and stakeholders to present technical and neighborhood perspectives directly to staff and supervisors.

Board members said they expect staff to complete standing items that were on the advisory group’s agenda, either through departmental rulemaking, planning applications or a forthcoming board work session on data‑center policy issues.

Ending
Supporters of the advisory group said they would continue to organize locally; others said the county needs to move to regulatory changes. The board directed staff and the county attorney’s office to continue drafting code amendments and other measures related to data‑center impacts.","After months of debate over data‑center development and neighborhood impacts, the Board of County Supervisors voted to disband the Data Center Oversight advisory group in a 4–2 vote on Oct. 7. Supporters said the group’s work has run its course; opponents argued residents still need the forum to raise concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428076,"Prince William staff brief supervisors on local fallout from federal shutdown: schools, housing and SNAP at risk",185,7199000,7384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54&start=7199&end=7384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54/thumbnail_7199000.jpg","/articles/6428076/Prince-William-County/Virginia/Prince-William-staff-brief-supervisors-on-local-fallout-from-federal-shutdown-schools-housing-and-SNAP-at-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428076-6945b5d29b1b00901e5f004d7adcd198/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984879&Signature=NKJc15P7TSjS0DVCawJDaZ2DuCL5A~T8-TTxU93Iljy9lDDQwX7WaJ2R91mrvA-C5ydAY1TC33y8NqXzSfap7kF7PQOfeP78Gss1MKCPqB4Y9Ja0-mafYUzE8Ho3qefTifQR7TanVGU74aBXxPBor33FLWd7y5vqYP1hoB9~Jn4GOE7PfPJ6zC0CJv2VMFnP6kf6fKe9hE93GHeSwpYrUiKww-hgAc0zNJ5fzaoqHxrGw11BuZlv3R7435zvLLM-xiePhZFRVb9CkcIU5GtIg46A~Sp4tyT8HkLYJR9l1gWtkH27iodtCWkQ6LI7lndz0znIwuVsppOwp9b4qN7HRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince William County officials told the Board of County Supervisors on Oct. 7 that while some federally funded services rely on prior‑year carryover and may continue into October, a prolonged federal government shutdown would create funding interruptions and service risks across the county.

\"Mandatory spending programs will continue; however, some services funded by annual appropriation will be impacted,\" Dave Sinclair, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a briefing the county added to the agenda after last week’s federal funding lapse. Sinclair’s office estimated the county and schools receive roughly $169 million in direct federal funding in the current fiscal year; Prince William Public Schools account for about $92.3 million of that total, with the county receiving about $77 million.

What county staff told the board
- Schools: Title I/II/IV and IDEA grants are advance funded and were not expected to stop immediately. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expected school meal programs to operate through October, but prolonged shutdowns could delay federal reimbursements and force local advances of funds.
- Housing: Housing choice vouchers and other HUD programs have some carryover; county staff said the voucher program should be funded through the end of the calendar year, but ongoing uncertainty remains.
- SNAP and TANF: Staff said SNAP benefit payments are likely to continue into October using carryover funds but warned that longer shutdowns could put states and localities in the position of fronting benefits. Virginia may need to decide whether to provide state funds to maintain payments and seek later reimbursement by the federal government.
- WIC and certain child‑nutrition or maternal programs: County leaders expressed concern that the WIC program is more vulnerable and could face interruptions within weeks if federal funds are not available.
- Medicaid expansion group and redeterminations: The county’s Department of Social Services reported about 26,000 county residents in the Medicaid expansion population could be affected by changes to eligibility, renewed redetermination frequency and addition of work requirements for some groups. \"Beginning 12/31/2026, Medicaid expansion recipients will be required to participate in getting their, through the redetermination process every 6 months,\" Director Phyllis Jennings Holt said; staff emphasized some exemptions will remain.

Emergency management and homeland security grants
Emergency management staff told the board that federal preparedness funding is shifting and that a major regional homeland‑security grant has been drastically reduced. \"The initial notice of funding opportunity for the National Capital Region indicated we were going to have a $25,000,000 award,\" Brian Meisner, emergency management coordinator, said. \"A later letter of award to the district was for roughly $4.4 million—a 90% reduction.\" Meisner said the reduction accelerates a regional effort to identify alternate funding for continued projects and could require local governments to assume programs previously funded by Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants. Meisner estimated near‑term local exposure of roughly $400,000 for FY 2026 and farther‑term capital and staffing implications in subsequent fiscal years.

County reaction and next steps
County Executive Chris Shorter said staff will continue to track federal guidance and coordinate with state agencies and community partners. \"Prince William County will continue reviewing our contingency plans for services that are reliant on federal funding,\" Shorter said.

Supervisors asked staff to continue preparing detailed financial scenarios and to brief the board in upcoming Finance and Budget Committee and full‑board sessions. Supervisors also urged county staff to coordinate outreach to community organizations and service providers that are likely to face increased demand if federal support is paused.

Ending
Staff said the county will update the board as more federal guidance arrives and will lay out budgetary options and contingency plans in the weeks ahead before FY 2027 budget proposals are finalized.","County departments told supervisors that some federal programs will continue on carryover funds for weeks but longer shutdowns could affect school meal reimbursements, housing assistance and SNAP; officials flagged potential WIC and Medicaid coverage risks and a large reduction in regional homeland‑security grant funding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428051,"Board initiates comp‑plan study for Klein property after public comment urging protection of parkland",3084,7335000,4251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54&start=7335&end=4251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54/thumbnail_7335000.jpg","/articles/6428051/Prince-William-County/Virginia/Board-initiates-compplan-study-for-Klein-property-after-public-comment-urging-protection-of-parkland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428051-60960654946af04600ef488d933b281e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984879&Signature=IFGXb-Jy3KXpNoOPHxHAzypoPWv1vsEVjqmHev6qETs-qD3UnTx7LER2JPyJgKk2QbgTHkOjuiHZcS4O5aM~VurvtweK6pUhxhvIauiOGnq9i-i8wIRTWdbOCZRkWYfLiX-CJ~fGLN7ybE2Vdd~~LAr1eoQzcKrCMyt4HEUvG6ZFTIpZzfb5zjjxD1AO-xCQLUDU0Gx6KYv~zR2q9kDfN4Yb8wZdCGxaYunc4EkBmlViK05rrg2fLk0vjhINMqOFsMTJofEM24GD4n7KCvzQZxcY4wEnhL6BVgRAgk-36oEgxKauPxxQddCwxwvyzWLEecmzYVFjeXFEetpAyb3ayw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Oct. 7 voted to initiate a comprehensive‑plan amendment (CPA) study for a roughly 25‑acre parcel tied to the Klein project, a proposal that would change the property’s long‑range designation from parks and open space to residential neighborhood (RN‑2).

Planning staff presented a high‑level review and recommended initiation with an expanded study area to allow a broader analysis of how the proposed land‑use change would fit within the Liberia Activity Center. \"Staff recommends initiating the CPA 2025‑0005 with an expanded study area, supporting county goals of sustainable growth, housing diversity, and also long term land use compatibility of the site with the surrounding environment,\" county staff said during the presentation.

Several members of the public had earlier urged the board to retain the parcel as parkland. Martin Jeter, a resident who spoke during public comment, told the board the county’s parks department recommends against removing the parkland, noting the Mid‑County area has among the least park acreage per resident in the county and that nearby green shading on planning maps represents privately owned land, not parkland available to the public. \"Your parks department is recommending against removing this parkland because the... Mid‑county area... has the least amount of parkland of any district in the county,\" Jeter said.

Staff analysis and next steps
Planning staff said the request includes a concurrent rezoning application seeking Planned Mixed Residential (PMR) zoning; a CPA initiation does not approve a rezoning. Staff highlighted that the applicant’s proposal for age‑restricted housing could reduce anticipated traffic compared with higher‑density mixed‑use alternatives, but also acknowledged tradeoffs in removing parks and open space designations. The staff recommendation was to expand the study boundary to include adjacent mixed‑use (MU‑3) parcels for context and to analyze compatibility.

The board’s initiation authorizes staff to study the proposed change, conduct community outreach and return with a full CPA analysis and a recommendation. If staff later recommends approval, the item would return to the board for formal hearings and a potential vote on the map amendment and any associated rezoning.

Ending
Supervisors said additional community outreach and detailed traffic, parks and environmental analyses will be required before any final plan or zoning actions. The initiation guarantees further study but does not change the site’s current designation or authorize development.","The board authorized initiation of a comprehensive‑plan amendment to change about 25 acres near the Liberia activity center from parks and open space to a lower‑density residential designation for an applicant’s rezoning; planning staff recommended an expanded study area and noted parks staff oppose removing parkland.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428061,"County staff to draft updates to PDR code to make purchase‑of‑development‑rights program operational",317,8804000,9121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54&start=8804&end=9121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906989-cdd4f5ee5e2e4c238e8e1dc6ef8ece54/thumbnail_8804000.jpg","/articles/6428061/Prince-William-County/Virginia/County-staff-to-draft-updates-to-PDR-code-to-make-purchaseofdevelopmentrights-program-operational","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428061-b6ef9e61cb52b80213879a5eb67cfcc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984879&Signature=m1-qHyj6-byJJWP-UStyO4KVS6WCjs4BeUImKMgyK6tdTvLm9vO-DVQ5NcQJn9jMBzBVCW3bEczoBkCXax-YSH77jXEw38gIj5mDtXRskgkEt7qoSi3V2a4~w9vovjp0bMS7-jYvqUWWnenR87nUBE6IgNjdHk8bA0wNaPYwD8RH7U1Ik7jDcgzcNAlD6dKfwKdFwgTiv8aojVOEbOd2eT99GkeoerznhXwtW6wEOsP0Rwq1uSXd9PmVOYc1mmGXGYdxnAfCVif1YKN-qxEtKm9TZmwQXV0MbcX~wUnRqjlKtBOClMM5GTHVqYbscMdmONVQ9ecHrLpK6ukLFgLgdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Oct. 7 to allow county staff to initiate amendments to the county code to make the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program operational.

Public Works Director Katab Shamut told the board the code changes will correct references to land‑use terms that no longer exist in the comprehensive plan and expand the role of the PDR advisory committee. \"We're looking at this to really expand onto the role of that committee when we finalize our work,\" Shamut said, explaining the committee would do more than outreach and advertising and instead help refine selection criteria and implementation details.

Shamut said staff also is meeting with Marine Corps Base Quantico about combining the county’s PDR resources with the base’s REPI (readiness and environmental protection initiative)‑like funds to leverage a larger pool for land‑protection purchases. The base, staff indicated, has substantially greater funding and legal tools aimed at protecting buffers around the installation.

Funding and next steps
County staff said the county’s current PDR appropriation is modest—on the order of about $1 million in FY 2024—and that any program also requires an appraisal process and clearly defined criteria to prioritize large, contiguous parcels that offer conservation value. Supervisors expressed interest in pursuing eventual dedicated or recurring funding to build a functional PDR program.

The board’s initiation gives staff direction to prepare code amendments and a scope for the advisory committee’s expanded role; staff will return to the board with proposed language and implementation options.

Ending
If the board approves the code changes after staff returns with drafts, the county would have authority to begin using PDR as a tool to preserve agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands, subject to available funding and appraisal by qualified professionals.","The Board authorized staff to initiate amendments to the county code to implement the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, clarifying outdated references and expanding the advisory committee’s role; staff said current funding is limited and that the county is coordinating with Marine Corps Base Quantico on joint preservation options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Prince William supervisors ratify amended firefighters’ contract after 4–2 vote; county finance office flags multi‑year costs

Board votes to disband Data Center Oversight advisory group after divided debate

Prince William staff brief supervisors on local fallout from federal shutdown: schools, housing and SNAP at risk

Board initiates comp‑plan study for Klein property after public comment urging protection of parkland

County staff to draft updates to PDR code to make purchase‑of‑development‑rights program operational