Board of County Supervisors Adopts Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

Prince William County, VA – At its meeting tonight, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, prioritizing strategic investments that address the community’s growing needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility. 

The FY2026 Budget supports the county’s Strategic Plan goals, with key investments in education, public safety, quality of life, infrastructure and essential services. These investments are balanced through a mix of tax rate adjustments and adherence to the county’s Principles of Sound Financial Management. 

“Prince William County is a growing community, and with that comes increased demand for services and quality of life amenities,” said Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson. “This is a responsible, balanced budget that meets those needs while aligning with our fiscal policies. I want our county to be known for its quality of life – and that means investing in our schools, public safety, parks and services for our most vulnerable residents.” 

FY2026 Budget Highlights: 

Education 

• A historic $991.6 million transfer to Prince William County Public Schools — $80.6 million more than last year. 

Public Safety 

• Increased staffing for Fire and Rescue, Police, Public Safety Communications and the Sheriff’s Office, as well as Criminal Justice Services, Commonwealth’s Attorney and Clerk to the Circuit Court. 

• Funding for replacement vehicles, equipment and apparatus. 

Quality of Life 

• Investment in mental health services by supporting Crisis Receiving Center operations ($5.7 million) for adults and juveniles while a waiver for Medicaid billing is processed. 

• An additional $5.5 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund reserve, bringing the total commitment to more than $30 million by FY2029. 

• Funding for homeless services via street outreach, coordinated entry and hypothermia services in western Prince William County, as well as added resources for mandated Children’s Services Act services. 

• Investments in parks maintenance, historic preservation, services for older adults, and community-based mental health and developmental disability/early intervention support. 

Mobility & Smart Growth 

• Continued support for transit partners (VRE and OmniRide) and increased funding for neighborhood-focused transportation projects. 

• Funding to update the county’s pending Noise Ordinance and develop policies for land assembly to support economic redevelopment. 

Government & Service Delivery 

• Nearly $13 million of technology investments to replace cybersecurity and network infrastructure, as well as technology improvements to enhance service delivery. 

• Increased staffing for public assistance to process applications, plan review, finance, human resources and language access. 

• Compensation enhancements to support recruitment and retention, along with technology upgrades, cybersecurity improvements and new election equipment. 

• Resources to open the county landfill and compost facility on Sundays in response to community feedback. 

Capital Projects 

• Construction and renovation of fire and rescue stations, improvements to existing park facilities, expansion of the Judicial Center and Public Safety Training Center and development of Homeless Navigation Centers. 

Tax Rate Adjustments 

To help offset rising home assessments, the Board reduced the real estate tax rate from $0.920 to $0.906 per $100 of assessed value. For the first time since 1990, the personal property tax rate on vehicles was also reduced — from $3.70 to $3.50 per $100 valuation. The business personal property tax rate on computer equipment and peripherals increased from $3.70 to $4.15 per $100 of assessed value. The Board will also amend the food and beverage (meals) tax ordinance at a later date to reduce the tax rate from 4% to 3% effective January 1, 2026. 

The county’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. 

Learn more about the FY2026 Budget here, or visit pwcva.gov/budget.