Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point attracts a crowd. See page 18. March 23, 2022
Our 205th year | Vol. 205, No. 12 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
Supervisors, school board members continue to negotiate funding for teacher pay raises By Daniel Berti and Coy Ferrell Fauquier Times Staff Writers
FAUQUIER TIMES STAFF PHOTO/COY FERRELL
School Board Chair Donna Grove (Cedar Run District) addresses a joint work session with county supervisors March 15 as Deputy Superintendent of Schools Major Warner looks on.
Two county supervisors have signaled their willingness to work with the school board to reallocate funds for limited pay raises in the school division as budget negotiations enter the final stretch. Supervisor Chris Granger (Center District) floated a proposal late last week that includes several moving parts. It would culminate with asking county voters to approve a bond referendum to fund, at least in part, $77 million for major maintenance projects in public school buildings. In turn, the school division could use up to $2.7 million from its facility maintenance budget to supplement a partially state-funded 5% raise for teachers, assuming some maintenance projects are delayed. That scenario would fall far short of the average 13% raises for teachers
Budget calendar
Supervisors will next meet March 29 at 2 p.m. to discuss follow-up budget items with county staffers. On March 31 at 4 p.m. they will hold their final work session to make formal changes to the proposed budget. They are scheduled to vote on a final draft of the budget April 4 at 4 p.m. The school board next convenes for a work session March 28 at 6 p.m. sought by Superintendent of Schools David Jeck in his budget request. The $7.4 million local match to fund that request would entail increasing expenditures by the equivalent of an additional 5 cents on the real estate tax rate, something no supervisor has entertained publicly despite pleas from school board members and others in the school community. See FUNDING, page 4
Contractor faces criminal charges, civil lawsuits for allegedly cheating customers Haymarket builder may have defrauded as many as 28 local homeowners By Liam Bowman
Piedmont Journalism Foundation
A Haymarket contractor who allegedly defrauded his customers of hundreds of thousands of dollars last year now faces criminal charges in five counties for felony embezzlement and construction fraud. Ryan Vanover, 40, pres-
ident of Vanguard Outdoor Living, has been charged with a combined 23 counts of construction fraud and embezzlement in Fauquier, Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun and Stafford counties. Vanover could face between one and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500 for each count. See FRAUD, page 13
PHOTO BY CARSON MCRAE/MCRAE VISUAL MEDIA
OPENING NIGHT: Carter Seay takes a shot during a March 15 Fauquier Adult Roller Hockey League game at the WARF. See page 2.
SPORTS: Previews on boys lacrosse, tennis, Liberty baseball, plus softball coverage. PAGES 15-17
It’s all about people . . . and always will be. www.vnb.com