Spotsylvania County is purchasing the soccer fields at New Post for five million dollars of taxpayer money. Why is Spotsylvania County paying well over the tax assessed value (around 1 million) and the 2022 purchase price (2.2 million) for land that is deed restricted? The land has environmental restrictions that renders it useless. No homes or commercial property can be built. There is no demand driving up the cost of that property. Prior to the county’s purchase, Fredericksburg Christian School attempted to purchase that property, but the deal fell off because of the environment restrictions.
Below are screenshots of emails we sent to Supervisors Lori Hayes, Chris Yakabouski, Drew Mullins, and David Gooseman on Friday May 15. We also sent an email to Tim Welsh whose company helped construct those fields. It is now Monday May 18 at 9pm and none of them have responded. When we emailed Mullins and Yakabouski on May 1, they responded within hours by deflecting and gas lighting. Mullins sent the Spotsy Wire five emails within 24 hours.
Why are the Supervisors now silent? Why are the Supervisors unable to answer some basic questions to the citizens? Is there corruption? Yakabouski repeats the same talking point that we are saving the county money. Is it really saving the county money? Spotsylvania County is paying a premium for deed restricted land. Demand drives price but there is no demand for this property so why is the county paying a premium and not negotiating for a lower price?
A 6% tax increase, then we were called spoiled with our refuse and disposal services threatened to be abolished….but they found $5M for this purchase? Why not invest that money into the baseball and softball fields at the five high schools? Wouldn’t that benefit thousands of kids over the next ten years?