Directives also provide financial assistance to Residents Facing Immediate Eviction

Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin at Tuesday’s Board of County Supervisor meeting issued four directives that would ease the tax burden on small businesses, provide financial assistance to residents facing immediate eviction, and identify a funding source for a multipurpose building for the Woodbridge District library and senior center. These directives reflect her long- standing position on ensuring that small businesses are not taxed at the same rate as large companies and providing financial assistance to residents in need of housing assistance.

Additionally, the community has long needed an improved space for both the public library and the
Woodbridge senior center.

Supervisor Franklin expressed her desire to have the Board of Supervisor’s legislative agenda
outlining its priorities for the General Assembly include provisions that would give localities the
ability to grant exemptions and waivers from the Computer and Peripheral Tax and the Food and
Beverage Tax for small businesses. She expressed her concerns about the impact of these taxes on
small “mom & pop” businesses throughout Prince William County.

According to Supervisor Franklin, “I do not think that a small business should endure the same level
of taxation as those of data centers. Localities need the support of the General Assembly to grant
flexibility to address the impact of these taxes.” She expressed similar concerns about the impact of
the Food and Beverage Tax on small locally owned restaurants and shops.

As the Board of County Supervisors finalizes the FY 2025 budget on Tuesday, April 23, Supervisor
Franklin stated that she “will continue her efforts to see that small businesses are not adversely
affected by tax increases and that our most vulnerable residents in the Woodbridge community
receive rental assistance and the other services they deserve and desire.”