Good morning, FXBG.
One more warm one before fall remembers what month it is: mostly cloudy with a high near 76, according to the National Weather Service. Showers move in tonight and Friday morning looks soggy, then the weekend turns crisp and sunny, with highs in the mid-60s and nights near 40. Find your jacket now.
In today's Rundown:
Stafford's school sales tax loses by about 600 votes, while Spotsylvania says yes to all $400 million in bonds
What the other results mean around here, from the 7th District to the state constitution
A weekend with dogs, art, jazz and toys for kids who need them, plus how to honor our veterans
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Today's photo: looking east across Stafford Courthouse toward Aquia Creek and the Potomac, by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
🗳️ Two counties, two very different answers on school money
Stafford and Spotsylvania both went to voters Tuesday asking for help paying for schools. They asked in different ways, and they got opposite answers.
Stafford said no, barely. The proposed local sales tax of up to 1% for school construction and major renovations lost 33,408 to 32,780, or 50.47% to 49.53%, with all 37 precincts reporting, according to unofficial state results reported by Potomac Local. That's a gap of about 628 votes out of more than 66,000.
County and school officials had estimated the tax could raise $13 million to $20 million a year, with groceries, prepared food and hygiene products exempt. The need hasn't gone anywhere: the School Board's adopted 10-year construction plan lists more than $1.7 billion in projects, according to the county's referendum page. So the real question now is how the supervisors and School Board plan to pay for new and renovated schools without it, and that conversation will land in budget season this winter.
One honest caveat: provisional and some mailed ballots were still uncounted as of Tuesday night, and nothing is official until the canvass. Flipping a 628-vote gap would take an unusually lopsided batch of late ballots, but we'll tell you if the number moves.
Spotsylvania said yes, four times. Voters approved all four bond questions, totaling about $400.6 million, the Fredericksburg Free Press reports:
Schools, about $237 million: land for future schools, new construction, renovations, HVAC and roofs, buses and technology.
Transportation, about $67.6 million: including the Route 208 and Smith Station Road intersection, extending Germanna Point Drive, and widening parts of Routes 2 and 17.
Public safety, about $62 million: including a fire training and logistics center.
Landfill and convenience centers, about $33.7 million: work at the Livingston landfill and safer, easier-to-use convenience centers.
A yes doesn't mean every dollar gets borrowed tomorrow. The county can issue these bonds over up to eight years and reviews each project during the yearly budget, according to its bond referendum page. The county's own FAQ estimated that if every bond were issued, the net hit to the real estate tax rate would be about 6.5 cents. Keep that number handy when budget hearings start.
Also in Spotsy, Shellie Bowman won the special election for Commissioner of the Revenue with about 53% of the vote, 30,973 to Yakabouski's 27,367, per the Free Press.
Stafford folks: did the sales tax get your vote, or not? Hit reply and tell us why in a sentence. We'll share a mix of both sides (first names only) in a future issue.
🏛️ The rest of the ballot, in local terms
7th District: Rep. Eugene Vindman won a second term over Republican Doug Ollivant, about 60% to 38% districtwide in unofficial results. Locally, he took about 72% in the city, 58% in Stafford and 52% in Caroline, according to the state's results site.
U.S. Senate: Sen. Mark Warner won reelection over Republican Bert Mizusawa. In Stafford, Warner had about 60%, per Potomac Local.
The constitution: All three amendments passed statewide: reproductive freedom, removing the old same-sex marriage ban, and automatically restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions once they've served their time. They're set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, though legal challenges are pending, with the first court hearing on the reproductive rights amendment scheduled for Nov. 13.
All of these numbers are unofficial until local boards finish their canvass and the state certifies later this month.
We said we'd share your Election Day line stories today. Honestly, we want more of them first, so if you haven't replied with your precinct and your wait, there's still time.
🐾 Your weekend, planned
Friday is for art (and rain boots). First Friday takes over downtown with eight galleries and studios, street musicians and late-night shops, as it has for about 30 years. Downtown Sounds is scheduled for Market Square, but with rain in the morning forecast, check before you head out for the outdoor part.
Fri., Nov. 6, 5–9 p.m. · Downtown Fredericksburg · Free
Saturday is for the dogs. The Fredericksburg SPCA's Animal Rescue Festival kicks off with a one-mile Walk for the Animals, then fills Hurkamp Park with rescue groups, local vendors, music and adoptable animals. Bring your four-legged family member. Bring a lint roller for the car ride home, too, in case you leave with a new one.
Sat., Nov. 7 · Walk 9–10 a.m., festival 10 a.m.–2 p.m. · Hurkamp Park
A few more good ones:
Hips, Hops & Hope Toys for Tots drive: Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at Maltese Brewing Company. Sat., Nov. 7, 1–4 p.m., free.
"Dear Evan Hansen" opens tonight: UMW's run at Klein Theatre goes through Nov. 22, with a Sunday 2 p.m. matinee this weekend. Tickets $5–$40.
Still on from yesterday's list: Night in Washington's Day at Historic Kenmore and Jazz4Justice at UMW's Dodd Auditorium, both Saturday night, plus the model trains at Spotsylvania Towne Centre all weekend.
Gothic Market: Grimoire Studios brings its folklore-and-witchcraft themed market to the Fredericksburg Convention Center on Sunday. Tickets are sold in advance only, with no cash at the door.
🇺🇸 Honoring our veterans
Veterans Day is next Wednesday, and the ceremonies start early this year.
Stafford goes first, Friday. The county's ceremony recognizes 17 veteran-owned and military-spouse-owned businesses, with Board Chairman Deuntay Diggs giving the keynote and special veteran pins handed out while they last, according to Stafford County. The county says more than 20,000 veterans call Stafford home.
Fri., Nov. 6, 10 a.m. · Stafford Armed Services Memorial, 1300 Courthouse Road · Free
Fredericksburg's procession is Wednesday. Veterans walk 0.6 miles down Washington Avenue from Memorial Park to the Fredericksburg Area War Memorial, with a trolley for veterans who'd rather ride. The commemoration follows at 11 a.m., rain or shine. Veterans and veteran groups can still register to march until the 30 group spots fill.
Wed., Nov. 11, step-off 10:30 a.m. · Washington Avenue · Free
Line the avenue if you can. It means more than you'd think. And if you can't, Stafford's online social wall lets you post a photo and a few words about a veteran you love using #StaffordVets.
📌 Also worth knowing…
Spotsy offices close Wednesday: County offices and facilities are closed for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, except the Livingston landfill and convenience centers and the Spotsylvania Visitor Center and Museum, which keep regular hours, the county says.
Green lights in Stafford: For the third year, Stafford is joining Operation Green Light for Veterans and encourages residents and businesses to put a green bulb on the porch this month.
Idlewild VRE bus ends Nov. 23: Riders on Fredericksburg Regional Transit's Idlewild-to-VRE route have a little under three weeks left to plan another way to the station.
Holiday season is coming fast: Downtown's Holiday Open House Weekend and the Riverfront Park tree lighting are Nov. 14–15. Our full guide lands next week.
👋 Before you go
If today's issue helped you make sense of Tuesday, forward it to a neighbor who's still squinting at the results. They can sign up free at thefxbgrundown.com.
Know about something this weekend we missed? Just reply. Friday's issue still has room.
A little more local. A lot more interesting.