Stewart: Pr. William County is in great shape

Prince William County has succeeded and gotten ahead through smart investments, a slimmed-down government and by easing the way for developers to do business locally, the chairman of the Board of County Supervisors said this week.

The annual “state of the county” speech by Board Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) marked a year of progress and good results, Stewart said at the board’s first meeting of the year.

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But, he said, he wants the county to keep pushing forward.

“As President Kennedy said, the time to repair a leaking roof is when the sun is out,” Stewart said. “The sun is shining, and the time to invest in the future is now.”

He wants the county to continue to invest in key infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and the arts.

Last year, census data placed Prince William — with a median income of a little more than $92,000 — in the top 10 wealthiest counties in the United States. The county retained its AAA bond rating — better than the federal government, Stewart said. And Prince William did so by investing in its infrastructure and focusing on core services, he said.

The board has cut $143 million and more than 300 government positions in recent years, Stewart said, while finding dollars for key transportation projects. The county is one of the few, Stewart often remarks, that puts up significant dollars for state projects that would otherwise sit on planners’ sheets for years.

The county topped the list of Virginia localities in job growth and was among the fastest job growers in the country last year, Stewart said.

“We are a symbol of stability, growth and prosperity,” he said.

But the cuts in government and a focus on only key services has garnered criticism. As supervisors have dealt with the fallout from September floods that destroyed much of Holly Acres Mobile Home park in Woodbridge, religious leaders and county activists have tried to draw attention to the county government’s lack of investment in affordable housing.

Supervisor Frank J. Principi (D-Woodbridge) asked county officials late last year to bring a plan for affordable housing to the supervisors for consideration. Stewart said in an interview that the affordable housing report, which will outline options the county could consider, is expected in the next few weeks.

On Tuesday, several board members also made appointments to key county advisory commissions. The board unanimously voted to appoint former Manassas planning commissioner Austin Haynes to replace Gary Friedman on the county Planning Commission, which advises on land-use issues.

Supervisor Martin E. Nohe (R-Coles) was selected as the board’s vice chairman, replacing Supervisor Maureen S. Caddigan (R-Potomac). The meeting also marked the first for newly elected Supervisor Peter K. Candland (R-Gainesville).