Loudoun Now for Sept. 17, 2020

Page 1

n LEESBURG

Pg. 6 | n PUBLIC SAFETY

VOL. 5, NO. 42

Pg. 10 | n ASSISTED LIVING

Pg. 16 | n OBITUARIES

We've got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com

Pg. 27 | n PUBLIC NOTICES

Pg. 28

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Amid Pandemic, Data Centers Going Strong BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

earlier at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday—and delaying the phase two Silver Line opening until at least July 2021. Originally the Silver Line was planned to open in Loudoun in 2018. All told, the proposed cutbacks would mean 1,738 layoffs, primarily from reduced weekday train service, continuing reduced bus service rather than restoring it as planned, and delaying some hiring

During the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses, schools and social circles have all gone online, which has meant unprecedented demand at the heart of the internet in Ashburn. Loudoun’s data centers, already a fast-growing market, have seen a surge of demand as society has scrambled to replace in-person activities with virtual alternatives. Long an important part of the county government’s budget, they have also been a bright spot as other sources of local tax revenues have fallen. Assistant Director of Management and Budget Caleb Weitz told county supervisors in July that the tax on computer equipment inside data centers accounts for nearly $395 million in the current fiscal year’s $1.7 billion in local tax revenues, and that revenue could grow by another $200 million next year. Replacing all the revenues from data centers in this year’s budget with real estate taxes would require raising the current $1.035 tax rate by more than 41 cents. All that, because Loudoun is what Sabey Data Centers General Manager Michael Whitlock called the “Super Bowl” of data center markets. “Anybody who’s any type of competitor wants to be in Ashburn,” Whitlock said. The past six months have been busier than ever for Sabey, a company that also

METRO DELAY continues on page 34

DATA CENTERS continues on page 34

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The doors to the Washington Dulles International Airport Metro Silver Line Station remain closed, with additional delays perhaps on the horizon.

Budget Squeeze Makes Another Silver Line Delay Likely BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

The second phase of Metrorail’s Silver Line has never had a formal opening date in Loudoun, but the Metro Board of Directors could give up on the idea of opening it before next July amid a budget crunch. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority had budgeted for the Silver Line’s extension into Ashburn to start rolling in April. But with systemwide

ridership dropping off in the COVID-19 pandemic and federal CARES Act money set to run out in January, the transit authority is looking at a projected $212 million budget gap in the current fiscal year. Some of that Metro management can find, but the Board of Directors will vote on Sept. 16 to send to public hearing a plan to shave $169 million out of the budget. Those reductions include standardizing 12 minutes between trains on weekdays, reducing the number of trains and operators, closing the system two hours

Is your home no longer working for you? I can help!

Jackie Wynn Trusted & Referred | Licensed in Virginia 540.454.1452 | JWynn@McEnearney.com | VirginiaFineLiving.com 107 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176 | Broker 703.738.8282 | Equal Housing Opportunity

ECRWSS Postal Customer

Permit #1374 Merrifield VA

PAID

PRESRT STD U.S. Postage


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.