As we get closer to the start of early voting for the Fall 2024 election, Potomac Local News is informing the community about candidates vying for seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat. You can sign up for Potomac Local News' newsletter here.
To help voters make an informed decision, they are launching a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city.
Here are Manassas Republican candidates answers to budget and tax questions:
Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom (Candidate for Mayor)
As a business owner of 25 years, budgeting comes very natural to me. I must stay within budget and provide excellent service to my customers. The city should as well, and not raise taxes that put an additional burden on the citizens. Of all the things the mayor does, none are more important than being fiscally responsible and upholding the trust you put in me to be a good steward of your tax dollars.
I feel budget priorities fall into two categories. “NEEDS” and “WANTS”
The “NEEDS,” like water, sewer, electricity, police, fire, rescue, education, transportation and rainy-day funds, top the list. In these vital areas, it is important that we have the best equipment, the best managers and the best trained staff possible. We should not be second best to anybody anywhere. These are investments in our community I would not waiver on as your mayor.
The “WANTS” are the areas where our citizens really get a chance to weigh in. Do you want to allocate your resources to more sidewalks, parks, arts, tourism, recreation, etc.? My preferences are not important next to the wants of the citizens I represent, like you. Come budget season, elected leaders should do more listening than talking. I promise I will make your voice heard.
Lynn Forkell Greene (Candidate for Council)
Our city continues to face multiple challenges: improving schools, enhancing public safety and investing in infrastructure. As your City Council member, I will work collaboratively to find the right balance, ensuring our tax dollars are used effectively and transparently.
Community input is crucial; decisions should echo the collective voice of our residents, guiding our choices rather than merely following procedure. Every voice matters. I am committed to advocating for policies that benefit all residents of Manassas City.
In 2022, I stood with many residents and proudly voted for a 15% tax reduction/refund on personal property taxes, which was ultimately unanimously approved by our City Council demonstrating my leadership and dedication to providing much-needed relief and fairness to our community.
I will strive to harmonize the cadence and number of simultaneous long-term projects, reduce unnecessary spending, and address organizational strategy for long-term success and sustainable growth.
Let’s continue our efforts to build a more prosperous Manassas City, where our tax dollars foster the well-being and equitable growth of our entire community.
Stephen Kent (Candidate for Council)
The 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey is a good indicator of how Manassas residents are feeling. Your priorities are my priorities. Residents are least satisfied with the quality of public education (41%) and the flow of traffic within the city (38%).
I want to see the Godwin Extension from Sudley to Compton Avenue built, reducing traffic on 28 and improving walkability in downtown. I will work with our friends at the Board of County Supervisors to make sure this happens and Manassas is less stuck in endless traffic.
School quality can be radically improved by investing $25.50 per student for a partnership with Yondr, a phone-storage technology company that is helping school districts create cell-phone free educational environments. It’s having a hugely positive effect on performance in core academic subjects and behavioral reports. Manassas can do this for grades 6-12 about $100,000, less than what we spend in a year on weapon detection devices inside Osbourn High School. I will make sure th School Board has the funding they need to include phone pouches and tools for implementing device storage safely during the day. This will improve school quality and honor our citizen’s tax dollar investment in education.
On taxes, the current City Council voted in June not to lower property taxes. Homeowners can expect to pay about $266 more this year on average for their tax bill. I think that is unacceptable while the people of Manassas are being crushed by inflation in every other part of their budget. The arrival of data centers in Manassas in not popular, but if they are going to go up and it is happening, they should benefit the people of Manassas by reducing the tax burden. Renters would benefit too. When landlords costs go up, so does the rent.
Manassas is doing well financially, thanks to market forces and national trends pushing investment and workers out of the D.C. area and into our area. This is good news and a better time than ever for a tax cut.
Robyn Williams (Candidate for Council)
As a member of the Manassas City School Board, I am familiar with the challenges inherent in creating a balanced budget that meets current obligations while planning for the future. On Manassas City Council, the priorities I consider critical to the quality of life of our citizens are, a rigorous and vital primary and secondary education system, public safety and crime reduction, and retention of our valuable civil servants.
In my recent conversations with constituents, education and crime are often cited as serious problems which impacts their quality of life. Our Manassas City budget must ensure that the salary and benefit package we offer to police, first responders, and teachers is commensurate with that offered by our neighbors. High-level positions in the city remain vacant, which suggests that our current budget priorities may require reassessment. It is essential to review and identify areas where budget reductions can be made to optimize our financial resources effectively.
Finally, budgets must respect the taxpayer. Manassas City is taking in plenty of revenue to meet its obligations to our citizens without increasing taxes on them, especially at a time in which inflation is taking a huge bite out of their household budgets.
Read more at PotomacLocal.com
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