Board of Supervisors - 2026-03-03
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors authorized advertisement of the FY 2027 budget, capital improvement program, VPSA bonds, and tax rates at their March 3, 2026 meeting. After extensive debate, the board voted 5-2 to advertise the real estate tax rate at $0.985 (up from $0.9236) and fire levy at $0.014, rejecting a substitute motion for a lower 93-cent rate. The board also approved advertising water, sewer, and reclaimed water rate increases of 6% for residential users, with new tiered commercial rates phased in over three years.
Key Decisions (5)
FY 2027 Budget, CIP, and VPSA Advertisement Authorization
Board authorized advertisement of the FY 2027 budget, FY 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program, and VPSA bond issuance of up to $6.65 million for school projects including Drew, Hartwood, North Stafford, and Thompson Middle School critical systems replacement.
CY 2026 Tax Rate Advertisement at $0.985
Board authorized advertisement of real estate tax rate at $0.985 (increase from $0.9236) and fire levy at $0.014 for total rate of $0.999. A substitute motion to advertise at 93 cents with data center rate increase to $2.50 failed 5-2.
Water, Sewer, and Reclaimed Water User Fee Rate Increases
Board authorized referral to utilities commission and advertisement of public hearing for water and sewer rate increases of 6% in FY27, 5.5% in FY28-29 for residential users, with new tiered commercial rate structure phased in over three years.
Water, Sewer, and Reclaimed Water Pro Rata Fee Amendment
Board authorized referral to utilities commission and advertisement of public hearing to amend pro rata fees for water, sewer, and reclaimed water services, adding reclaimed water rates to existing ordinance.
Reclaimed Water Service Availability Rate Establishment
Board authorized referral to utilities commission and advertisement of public hearing to establish reclaimed water service availability rate for data center connections, covering cost recovery for facility relocation.
Development Activity (10)
Amazon Web Services Data Centers
Two data centers approved November 2023; first building not yet completed; will operate at 25% capacity initially due to Dominion power limitations; purple pipe system construction to begin within 30-60 days; 15 properties still need easements for purple pipe
SDC Data Center
By-right data center project; still going through substation approval process; first building expected online well into 2027
Vantage Data Center
By-right data center project; has broken ground and completed full permitting process
Potomac Tech Data Center
By-right data center project; actively being built and will be online
Cranes Corner Data Center
By-right data center project; nowhere near ready for 01/01/2027 assessment date
Pemberton Data Center
By-right data center project; still in review
Drew Elementary School
New school construction funded through VPSA bonds; part of $6.65 million issuance
Hartwood Elementary School
New school construction funded through VPSA bonds; part of $6.65 million issuance
North Stafford Elementary School
New school construction funded through VPSA bonds; part of $6.65 million issuance
Thompson Middle School Critical Systems Replacement
Critical systems replacement project funded through VPSA bonds
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Average residential property assessment increased approximately $430 with some properties seeing 20-22% increases, indicating strong housing market appreciation in Stafford County.
Infrastructure
County anticipates $150 million in data center revenue over next 10-15 years, though timeline depends on private company build-out schedules and market conditions.
Commercial Demand
Five by-right data center projects are in various stages of development, with AWS locked into $1.25 tax rate through performance agreement until 12/31/2051.
Sentiment
Multiple residents expressed concerns about affordability and tax burden, with one speaker noting Stafford County is more expensive than Westchester County, New York.
Infrastructure
Smith Lake water plant upgrades and other capital projects driving $4-5 million increase in utilities debt service over next three years.