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Community-Supported News. Free to all.
VOL. 10, NO. 36
Rebalance: County Eyes Lower Data Center Taxes BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun County financial management staff will make a strong push to roll back taxes on data centers next year, saying the cuts are critical to rein in the growth of the government. The recommendation was a core element of the fiscal year 2027 budget outlook briefing provided to the Board of Supervisors’ financial committee last week. Management and Budget Director Megan Bourke highlighted concerns over uncertainty in the national and regional economies, slowing housing construction, and increasing unemployment rates, but stated that Loudoun’s diverse revenue base is well-positioned to weather such storms. The increasing dependence on data center tax revenue was presented as a greater threat, however. While the county board last year reduced both the real estate tax rate and the personal property tax on vehicles, it maintained the general personal property tax rate at $4.15 per $100 of assessed value. That is the rate charged on computer equipment in data centers, among many other things. DATA CENTER TAXES continues on page 35
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JULY 17, 2025
County Fair Week Opens Tuesday The Loudoun County fair opens Tuesday, July 22 for a five-day run that will include carnival rides, concerts, rodeos, a demolition derby, and lots of barnyard animals. Cole Shows Amusement Company will operate the carnival, which opens at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday, and at 4 p.m. Friday. Other entertainment highlights this year includes bull riding, a demolition derby, magic shows, concerts and the livestock auction. Advance tickets are available online at tickets.loudouncountyfair.com. The cost is $16.50 per day/$20 at the gate after 5 p.m. for adults and $5.75 for kids. Weekly passes are $44 for patrons ages 13 and up and $16.50 for kids. Children under 5 are free. There also is a one-time $5 parking fee good for the whole week. Go to loudouncountyfair.com for the complete schedule and other fair information. n
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Generator Use Jumps in Heat Wave; Turner Pushes for Tier 4 Upgrades BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
During the heat wave at the end of June, power demand in the region peaked at its third highest recorded usage ever, resulting in regional power coordinators requesting some customers to run on backup power to provide relief to the grid.
Residents in Loudoun County noticed, with many emailing supervisors with complaints about the constant noise from generators that typically only serve as a backup power supply to the largest concentration of data centers in the world. PJM Interconnection, the regional power coordinator for Virginia and 13 other states, recorded its highest
peak summer load at 165,563 megawatts in 2006. On June 24, peak load was preliminarily estimated at 162,401 MW. On June 23, it was estimated to have reached 161,770 MW. A single megawatt can power approximately 800 homes. GENERATOR USE continues on page 34
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