Stafford County staff present five‑year plan that hinges on speculative data‑center revenue

Stafford County officials reviewed a general‑fund five‑year financial plan that projects $163,600,000 in additional revenue over five years and treats data‑center development as a major revenue source, but supervisors pushed staff for more precise schedules and cautioned that several assumptions are speculative.

At a board work session, county staff described the FY25 operating budget baseline as $427,000,000 and said the five‑year plan adds incremental changes to that base. "This is really the beginning of our budget season," a staff presenter said as they opened the review of projected revenues and expenditures. Staff warned that fiscal year 2026 is the first and most immediate challenge, with only $19,900,000 of new revenue built into the model for that year.

Why it matters: the plan’s revenue assumptions drive the county’s ability to fund schools, public safety and capital projects without raising property taxes. Staff flagged that real estate remains the largest revenue source and that a substantial portion of the plan’s growth is tied to data‑center real estate and business personal‑property assessments.

Key figures and assumptions - Five‑year projected increase in general‑fund revenue: $163,600,000 (incremental to the FY25…