Stafford County’s 2026 General Assembly Legislative Program focuses on expanding revenue sources for schools, seeking state support for veterans’ tax relief, and enhancing local authority over land use decisions, particularly those related to electrical infrastructure projects.
According to the county, the legislative agenda is developed by Stafford’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in collaboration with the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator. The program aims to address issues identified through resident feedback and budget challenges.
“Our legislative program is the culmination of what we hear from our residents in our districts and in Board meetings, as well as what our county administrator identifies as challenges to our budget,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Deuntay Diggs. “Providing for the needs of schools and the impact of veterans’ tax relief on our budget continue to be pressing topics, while the impact of large-scale electrical projects is a new one.”
One key proposal seeks permission for Stafford County to impose an additional local sales and use tax up to one percent. This tax would fund capital projects for school construction or renovation and could only be collected for up to 20 years. Several other Virginia counties already have this taxing authority.
Stafford County Public Schools District enrolled 31,700 students during the 2023-24 school year, representing a 1.7% increase from the previous year’s total enrollment of 31,160 (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Among its 32 schools, Brooke Point High School had the highest enrollment with 2,242 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). White students made up 38.9% of district enrollment with 12,332 students; Hispanic students were the next largest group at 24.5%, totaling 7,780 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home).
The legislative program also addresses funding gaps caused by veteran tax relief exemptions. Veterans who are fully service-disabled are exempt from real estate and personal property taxes—a policy that has a significant fiscal impact on Stafford due to its high concentration of veterans compared to other Virginia counties. The amount of lost tax revenue from this exemption increased by 29% over last year. The county is requesting state funding to help offset these losses.
Another focus area is local input into land-use decisions affecting community character at all government levels. The Board supports requiring the State Corporation Commission to consider a locality’s Comprehensive Plan when evaluating transmission line projects and assigning costs for underground high-voltage transmission lines to “high-load customers.”
Additional statements in Stafford’s Legislative Program express support for public safety measures, alternative custody options under emergency or temporary detention orders, and maintaining zoning authority at the local level while opposing unfunded mandates or reductions in land use powers.
More information about Stafford’s legislative priorities can be found on its Office of Intergovernmental Affairs webpage.
