Stafford supervisors are proposing a special tax on commercial properties to help pay for the widening of major highways at each end of the county.
During their meeting yesterday, supervisors agreed to look at 10 cents per $100 of assessed value on commercial and industrial properties along State Route 610 in North Stafford and U.S. 17 in the southern end of the county. While this tax would be a separate bill, it would be mailed to property owners along with the real estate tax bill.
The vote to set that rate for the Garrisonville Road district was unanimous. For the Warrenton Road tax district, the vote was 5-2, with Joe Brito and George Schwartz dissenting.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing in the near future before voting on the tax increase.
Planned improvements for Route 610, or Garrisonville Road, include widening it from four lanes to six lanes from Onville Road to Eustace Road, and adding a second turn-lane from 610 to Mine Road.
Supervisors also want to build a pedestrian walkway connecting Mine Road to Stafford Market Place.
The walkway will give customers better access to stores, which could help offset some of the tax burden on retailers, according to Aquia District Supervisor Paul Milde. "It's something you can give them, that's tangible, for their money."
Garrisonville Road improvements are estimated at about $15 million, depending on which projects are selected.
The 10-cent tax increase would generate about $510,000 per year. Over 20 years this would pay the debt service on $6.5 million.
Supervisors said growing retail along Route 610 will mean more businesses paying taxes and more funds for road projects.
Since 610 is predominantly used by county residents, "there's going to have to be some local investment in fixing our roads," said Garrisonville District Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer.
Upgrades to U.S. 17, or Warrenton Road, include lane expansions and additional sidewalks. Improvements would cost an estimated $45 million.
A 10-cent tax in this area would raise about $692,000 a year. Over 20 years, this would pay the debt service on about $8.85 million.
Supervisors said the rate was appropriate since U.S. 17 is a federal highway used by thousands of out-of-town motorists.
This is the board's third attempt to impose a levy against property owners in North Stafford. Attorney Richard Nageotte, who owns buildings and commercial properties along 610, successfully sued the county in 2001 and again in 2006 to block a tax district there.
In the 2006 case, a circuit judge ruled that Virginia's service-district law excludes roads under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The General Assembly then clarified the statute, opening the door for Stafford to re-create the service districts in July.
Last month, Nageotte filed another suit challenging both the North Stafford and U.S. 17 tax districts. He said taxing only commercial property owners is unfair.
"If they want to raise funds for road improvements, they ought to tax everybody," he argued. "Everybody uses the roads, not just the businesses."
Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977