Issue Position: Alleviate overcrowding through smarter growth

Issue Position

If you're in a hole, stop digging.

When we already have overcrowded schools, then why are our local governing bodies approving hundreds of new housing developments before we've built more schools, improved our existing schools and developed more infrastructure to support those students and their families?

Simply put, you have to have existing infrastructure in place in order to make informed development decisions. Why? Sometimes, local governing bodies have to cut their budgets and push back capital improvement projects, like bringing on new schools, roads,fire and police stations, etc. Yet what we see happen so often is our local governing bodies make decisions based on what they expect to be there in the future instead of what is already on the ground.

Let's build our infrastructure first, then consider development in a way that diversifies our residential and commercial portfolio. We can't just grow our population and insist development proffers and real estate taxes will make up for the stress a rapidly growing population puts on our existing infrastructure. We have to be smarter with how we manage growth and focus on growing our commercial tax base.

In western Prince William County, we have to focus heavily on bringing more major employers into Innovation Technology Park so we don't have to rely so much on residential growth to fund our local budget. By building up our commercial tax base, we can shorten commutes and put more of our tax money toward education infrastructure projects, like alleviating overcrowding.

Legislators in Richmond have little power to stem overcrowding in schools without trampling on the rights of localities to make their own land use decisions. But what legislators can do is secure state funding for capital improvement projects so we can build up our infrastructure, including more schools and advocate for smarter development policies with our local governing bodies.

As your delegate, I'll do what I can to build on Sen. Chuck Colgan's (D-29) legacy of investing in education by securing more money for infrastructure that supports our local roadways and schools.

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