GUEST OPINION: Our schools have a stake in the Sept. 22 data center vote

Prince William County School Board Chairman Babur Lateef has expressed his support for a proposed change in how Prince William County handles data center development, which is scheduled for a vote by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on September 22. This vote represents the most significant policy shift regarding data centers in the county in a decade.

Lateef, who has chaired the School Board since 2018, emphasized the critical role data center tax revenue plays in funding the county's schools. With approximately 90,000 students, the second-largest division in Virginia, the school system relies heavily on the county's general revenue, with 57.23% allocated to schools. In 2024, data centers contributed $293.7 million in local taxes, a substantial increase from $6 million twelve years prior, directly benefiting teacher salaries, universal pre-kindergarten programs, and school maintenance.

The proposed changes would eliminate 'by-right' approval for new data centers, mandating that all future projects require a special use permit, involving a public hearing and a vote by the elected supervisors. This aims to give residents more say in development. However, the proposal also seeks to honor existing approvals and projects already under county review, ensuring predictability for developers who have made investments based on prior county agreements. Both parties among the supervisors have put this proposal forward, and the Planning Commission has recommended its approval, aiming for a balance between community input and economic stability.