Issue 12
Monday, May 11, 2020
Prince William County
Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, we celebrated all those who fill the role of Mother. Whether it is for a lifetime or a moment in time, the impact you have individually and collectively on all who live in our county is immeasurable. Thank you.

This is an important week as we continue to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. On Friday, our Governor shared information on moving into Phase One of Forward Virginia. In my lead article, you will learn important details on our regional response.

Another featured topic in this issue is transportation and I've started by sharing information on how our projects are funded. The segment on our regional funding partner includes time-sensitive deadlines to submit comments on our county's 11 projects. If you would like to provide positive comments, in particular on the Dumfries Route 1 project, find out how below.

I've also included my latest video message to you and details on this week's BOCS meeting. There are highlights from my conversation with Congresswoman Wexton held last Wednesday, exciting PWCS news, two special acknowledgments, and information from some of our county's departments.

Lastly, I'm excited to share I've launched an additional way for us to stay in touch, The Wheeler Connection YouTube Channel. This is your central location for all of my videos, as well as ones I believe you'll find interesting and informative.

In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
A Message From Your Chair
Regional Response To COVID-19 Phase One
Governor Northam's May 8 Press Release advised the earliest
Virginia Forward: Phase One would start is Friday, May 15.
It is important to note, as outlined in Issue 10, moving to Phase One is contingent upon meeting specific criteria.
While it is likely the state as a whole will reach these by May 15,
unfortunately, this is not expected in our region.

Therefore, the City of Alexandria and the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, which are the five largest municipalities in Northern Virginia, have taken the actions outlined below.
On May 9, the Directors of the Northern Virginia Health Departments and Districts collectively advised our State Health Commissioner and the municipalities' Chief Administrative Officers they do not believe the region has met Governor Northam's criteria for moving into Phase One.
On May 10, Northern Virginia County Chairs and the Mayor of Alexandria collectively thanked Governor Ralph Northam for his leadership during this extraordinary time and advised we feel strongly that any changes to current policies be guided by what is occurring in our region .
T hese letters were written only after thoroughly examining the local and regional data along with great consideration and dialogue.
As outlined in my Press Release on May 10 , our five municipalities are
nearly a third of the population of Virginia and half of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

As was stated in our letter to the Governor:
"We eagerly wish to rebuild our economy
and help our residents recover."
Governor Northam will be holding press conferences
today and Wednesday at 2:00 pm.
You are encouraged to tune-in for the latest updates on next steps.
An Important Month For Transportation
Funding Transportation Projects
There are four primary sources of funding for County Transportation Projects:
  • Federal
  • State
  • Regional
  • Local
The percentages from each source:
  • Will vary from year to year
  • Can change within any given year
Currently, our Transportation Department's estimate of percentages by funding source for 2020 are:
  • 33% State
  • 30% Regional
  • 19% Federal
  • 18% Local
So, what about your residential real estate tax dollars?
Out of every $100 of residential real estate tax payments collected, approximately $.20 or .002% goes towards funding the Prince William County Department of Transportation.
The Regional Bucket
Speaking of transportation, our regional funding comes from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA). In the next few months, NVTA will adopt its FY 2020-2025 Six Year Program.

There are 41 projects from 13 jurisdictions on the list vying for at least 400 million in NVTA funding. Of those:
  • 10 are in Prince William County
  • 1 is in the Town of Dumfries
You Can Be Part Of The Process
The NVTA welcomes p ublic comment submissions on the Six Year Program projects prior to its adoption. If you would like to participate, see the methods below.
Submit your comments by 11:59 pm on Sunday, May 24 via:

These options are highly recommended due to COVID-19
Speak at Public Hearing on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 pm at NVTA:

View the Public Hearing live on the NVTA Facebook page
Understanding The NVTA
Also referred to as The Authority, NVTA f unds projects primarily intended to relieve traffic congestion in Northern Virginia. Below is a high-level snapshot of their revenue and funding process.
Where does the NVTA get its revenue?
  • Legislation enacted by the Virginia General Assembly related to local sales tax collected by the state and transferred to them
  • Issuance of long-term bonds (NVTA revenues are used to repay the debt service)
How does the NVTA allocate its funding?
  • Jurisdictions receive 30% of the funding and determine the projects to allocate it to based on their own needs
  • NVTA determines which regional projects are allocated the remaining 70%
Board of County Supervisors
Meeting

This week, the BOCS will hold our regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:00 pm. There are no public hearings on the agenda.

You can participate in public comment time remotely. Advance sign-up is required by 5:00 pm Monday, May 11 through SpeakUp! Prince William.
Conversations with the Chair
COVID-19 Federal Response
In last week's 30-minute conversation, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton:
  • Provided details on what has been enacted
  • Outlined future actions being considered
  • Shared some of her legislative priorities
  • Highlighted her new initiative, Caring For Those Who Care

Use the links to view the conversation and learn more about her initiative.
You can find all videos from the Chair's office on her new
The Wheeler Connection YouTube Channel.
School News
Great News For The Class of 2020
Last Wednesday, the School Board announced they are allowing PWCS to hold in-person commencement ceremonies! Each high school will be able to host graduation in their football stadium during the first week of August.
Help Name Our New High School
PWCS will open its 13th High School next year! Submit your naming ideas at the virtual meeting Tuesday, May 12 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm or in writing by Tuesday, May 19. To participate, learn more at Naming The 13th High School.
Acknowledgements
National Older Americans Month
Every year in May, we take the time to give a special acknowledgment to our elders. This year's theme, #MakeYourMark , celebrates their countless contributions to our community . We know 2020 has unique challenges in connecting with those who are older, so you may want to read Issue 4 for some ideas.
National Police Week
In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week.  While public events are canceled this year, please take a moment to honor all who serve and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
From PWC Government
Business Resources
PWC Government is committed to serving our business community during COVID-19. In addition to the resources available at www.PrinceWilliamCounty.biz , the Economic Development and Office of Tourism staff is available for FREE 1:1 business counseling. For more information, email CGrove@pwcgov.org .
National Travel & Tourism Week
This month we recognized our hotels, restaurants, and attractions that depend upon travel and tourism. A resurgence of tourism is vital to our recovery and long-term economic vitality. Prince William County looks forward to welcoming visitors back when the timing is right. In the meantime, please support your favorite local restaurant, shop, or businesses at www.VisitPWC.com .
Ann B. Wheeler was elected Chair At-Large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors during the 2019 General Election and assumed office on January 1, 2020. Prince William County is located 25 miles south of Washington, D.C., and is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s second-most populous county with approximately 470,000 residents.