How to vote in Fauquier: See page 3 October 26, 2022
Our 205th year | Vol. 205, No. 43 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50 VIRGINIA PRESS ASSOCIATION: BEST SMALL NEWSPAPER IN VIRGINIA 2017-2021
Predicting tax revenue from data centers challenging
“Quite frankly, none of us have enough information to value the tax revenue from a not-yet-built project.” TIM LECLERC Prince William County Deputy Finance Director
Lessons from Loudoun: Incorrect estimates Revenue analyses, public documents and interleft a $60 million county budget shortfall views with officials in Northern Virginia suggest that By Peter Cary
Piedmont Journalism Foundation
As argument swirls around proposed data centers in Fauquier and Prince William counties, both proponents and opponents can agree on one thing: They generate a ton of tax revenue. But exactly how much revenue would come from the 220,000-square foot-Amazon center proposed in Warrenton, or from a 27 million-square-foot development on mostly rural land in Prince William County, is the subject of serious debate. See pages 4 and 5 for more data center coverage.
Planning commissioners send Waterloo Junction proposal to town council By Robin Earl
Fauquier Times Staff Writer
the amount of revenue in both places may be either significantly less than expected or, at best, an unpredictable source of public funding. In counties that depend on data center taxation, officials are finding that estimating that revenue is a fuzzy business. And estimating revenue from data centers not yet approved — much less built and operating — is an exercise in futility, as one finance official put it. Loudoun County, where 115 data centers are forecast to generate $576 million in county taxes in 2023 – about one-third of its property tax stream — learned this lesson last year. The county was expecting several data centers to replace their equipment, but either due
After a public hearing, the Warrenton Planning Commission on Oct. 18, voted to recommend for approval a mixed-use development on Broadview Avenue that would include 47 1,800-square-foot townhomes, a building slated for retail and renovation of six apartments over O’Brien’s Irish Pub. The proposal also includes an expanded outdoor space for O’Brien’s and a small private park on the 4.8-acre lot.
See REVENUE, page 4
See WATERLOO, page 7
Nathan Larson, of Catlett, dies in federal custody Self-described pedophile, white supremacist arrested last year on federal kidnapping charges
Holiday magic on Main Street The Warrenton Christmas Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 2 in Old Town. See page 2 for more upcoming community events.
By Coy Ferrell
Fauquier Times Staff Writer
Nathan Larson, the Catlett resident charged with grooming and abducting a child from California, died in federal custody Nathan in Arizona Sept. Larson 18. He was 41. Newsweek first reported Larson’s death.
FAUQUIER TIMES STAFF PHOTO/COY FERRELL
See LARSON, page 8
Andi’amu wins International Gold Cup wire-to-wire. Full analysis, page 17.
It’s all about people . . . and always will be. www.vnb.com