Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Board Priorities for the Community
In 2012, the Board set the following priorities for the community: public safety, education, economic development, infrastructure, and service excellence, all encompassed by fiscal responsibility and reducing the tax burden.
Redevelopment Master Plan
Since its adoption in 2011 by the Board of Supervisors as an element of the Comprehensive Plan, implementation of the recommendations contained in the Master Redevelopment Plan has progressed. There was a lot of activity in the Boswell’s Corner Redevelopment Area in 2012: the Stafford Technology and Research Center opened; two new Class A office buildings opened in the Quantico Corporate Center; hotel and two additional office building plans in the park were approved; design plans for the extension of Corporate Drive to Telegraph Road were approved; preliminary engineering of improvements to US Route 1 continued; a $4M federal project to improve the intersection of US Route 1 and Telegraph Road started; and a $250,000 federal grant to undertake a Joint Land Use Study with Prince William and Fauquier Counties and MCB Quantico was approved. In the Courthouse Redevelopment Area, there was substantial progress on the $2.8M Courthouse Streetscape Project and the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) design of the new Interstate 95/Courthouse Road interchange. Site development plans were submitted for five new businesses and VDOT continued to move forward with major improvements to US Route 17 in the Southern Gateway Redevelopment Area.
Economic Development Ten-Point Plan
The Board of Supervisors adopted the Economic Development Ten-Point Plan in early 2010 to lay out steps for implementing the Board’s mission of making Stafford a more desirable and business-friendly community through jobs for our citizens, a world-class school system, modern public safety services and abundant parks and recreation amenities. Accomplishments include the opening of the Stafford Tech and Research Center, Community Development Services Center, and the opening of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail.
Stafford Technology and Research Center
In September 2012, Stafford held a grand opening for the Stafford Technology and Research Center, the foundation for a future full-fledged technology and research park. The creation of the center will help Stafford meet the evolving needs of the more than 30,000 tech sector employees who work for the more than 40 private high-tech employers and 30 public agencies and support operations near the center, which is conveniently located near Quantico. The Board of Supervisors passed a Memorandum of Understanding with George Mason University, the University of Mary Washington, and Germanna Community College to provide classes at the center.
Community Development Services Center
In an effort to make Stafford more business-friendly, a Community Development Services Center was opened at the Government Center. The center strives to streamline the permit and planning processes for citizens and businesses.
Job Growth
Stafford County led the Commonwealth of Virginia in job growth over the five years between 2006 and 2011 among large communities. In addition, Stafford had the fastest job growth, by percentage of growth, in all of Northern Virginia in the same time period. Employment increased 14.6%. In 2006, Stafford had 32,578 jobs, and by 2011, the number had changed to 37,336, an increase of 4,758.
Bond Rating Upgrade
Fitch Rating Service upgraded the County’s bond rating for lease revenue bonds from AA- to AA, citing superior economic and financial performance. In 2011, Standard and Poor’s raised the County’s bond rating to AA.
Ended Fiscal Year 2012 with $5.1 Million Positive Results of Operations
Through a combination of fiscal restraint, lower taxes, prioritized funding and an aggressive pursuit of economic development, Stafford County ended FY 2012 with a $5.1 million surplus. Stafford County emerged from the economic downturn with a stronger balance sheet and continues to be financially sound.
Rocky Pen Run Reservoir
Progress continues on the County’s third water reservoir. The reservoir will hold approximately 5.3 billion gallons of water, greatly increasing the amount of water in reserve. Construction is due to be completed in the fall of 2013.
Parks and Recreation Bond Referendum
In 2009, Stafford County citizens voted to approve a Parks and Recreation Bond Referendum to develop new parks and improve or renovate existing parks. The design phase is complete for Chichester Park which will be built next to Stafford High School and is due to be finished in 2014. Scheduled to open in 2014 and currently in the design phase, Embrey Mill Park will increase the number of playing fields in the county and add an indoor 50 meter pool. Preliminary work is complete on the Curtis Park pool to prepare it for a 2014 renovation. A parking expansion is underway at Smith Lake Park that is due to be finished in 2013.
Transportation Bond Referendum
In 2008, Stafford citizens voted to approve a $70,000,000 bond referendum to make transportation improvements in Stafford. The bond referendum identified 19 road projects as well as pedestrian improvements. Currently, nine road projects, two safety enhancements, and four pedestrian improvements are under way or completed.
Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 of this new walking, biking and running trail have been completed of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail, linking Belmont to Historic Falmouth to St. Clair Brooks Park and Pratt Park. The Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail System is part of a bigger trail system that is envisioned to connect Stafford’s parks and historical resources along the Rappahannock River with those of Fredericksburg, forming the “Heritage Loop.”
Heather Empfield Public Day School Wins National Award
Stafford County’s Heather Empfield School and Transition Center has won a National Association of Counties (NACO) Achievement Award for its successful and creative approach to addressing an educational issue in the community. The Achievement Awards are given to innovative county government programs across the United States. The Stafford Office of Human Services and Stafford County Public Schools founded the Heather Empfield Day School in 2009 in response to the rising number of students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and emotional disabilities.
Stafford’s 350th Anniversary
The Board of Supervisors appointed a 350th Anniversary Blue Ribbon Planning Committee to plan for the year-long celebration of Stafford’s 350th anniversary. Signature events will take place throughout 2014 to mark Stafford’s special milestone and to bring the community together to honor the county’s history and people.
311 Service
Stafford has a new 311 Service designed to answer calls questions with one phone call. Citizens can dial 311 on their landline and be connected to 311 staff who are trained to answer calls quickly and efficiently as part of the Board of Supervisors’ emphasis on service excellence.
Plan for Human Services
The intent of the plan for human services is for existing agencies within the community to utilize the plan as guidance when developing their own goals for service delivery. By leveraging the data within the plan service agencies can look at existing funding from local governments, state and federal grants, to create efficiencies and to meet the identified existing gaps in service delivery. Additionally the plan enhances existing opportunities for collaboration between agency leaders to work towards creating an overarching framework that will meet the goal of improving the quality of service delivery within the County as it addresses the total person or family and furthers efforts in Stafford becoming more efficient. Plans for 2013 include implementing the goals of the plan and developing a Human Services Council.
