Planes line up on the Tarmac at the Stafford Regional Airport, where a high personal property tax rate has led to empty hangar spaces. photos by ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Stafford airport officials seeking lower personal property tax on aircraft to attract businesses
Stafford County's Economic Development Authority voted yesterday to recommend lowering the county's personal property tax on aircraft.
With its 6-1 vote, the EDA showed it believes Stafford's rate should be in line with the county's neighbors to the north. David Beiler was the lone dissenter.
Stafford's personal property tax on aircraft is $3 per $100 of assessed value. Planes kept at the airports in Manassas and Leesburg pay a 1-cent rate, according to a report by Stafford Regional Airport Manager Ed Wallis.
The EDA recommended changing Stafford's rate to the same 1-cent per $100 of assessed value as its neighbors to the north. Beiler suggested a $1.50 rate, but that motion received no support from other EDA members.
Stafford's Board of Supervisors assigned the aircraft tax matter to the county's EDA in May. The EDA will forward its recommendation to the supervisors, who could vote on a rate change in the next couple of months.
Economic development staff and airport officials think a lower tax rate will draw businesses and aviation-related jobs to Stafford Regional Airport, where about half of the 40 T-hangar spaces sit empty. Just one corporate hangar has been built, although there is space for many more.
EDA member Jack Rowley pointed out that a lot of investment has gone into the Stafford airport, nearby Centreport Parkway and the Exit 136 interchange off Interstate 95. County officials envision business growth there, with the airport being a key part.
The Stafford airport has three businesses interested in developing corporate hangars totaling 130,000 square feet if the tax rate is reduced, Stafford Regional Airport Authority Chairman Walt George told the EDA.
Not everybody wants to see more development. Ted A. Parks, who lives close to the airport, spoke against the lower rate yesterday. He said it wasn't fair to give aircraft owners a tax break, and said noise from the airport has harassed nearby property owners and reduced the value of their homes.
Beiler called the possible tax reduction "special interest legislation" that would be a disaster for Stafford. He said it would "destroy the quality of life" by bringing "screaming jumbo jets" and low-paying jobs. The rest of the EDA disagreed.
Personal property tax rates on Stafford County aircraft are higher than in other localities in the region with airports similar to Stafford Regional Airport. Here is the annual tax on a $15 million plane in some of these localities.
Stafford: $180,000
Culpeper: $72,450
Hanover: $57,500
Manassas: $1,500
Leesburg: $1,150
Warrenton-Fauquier: $115
--Information compiled by Stafford Regional Airport manager
