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Stafford tax bills may hold steady
Average homeowner’s real-estate tax bill would rise only $17 if advertised rate is approved.
Date published: 4/2/2008
BY KAFIA HOSH
Stafford County residents could see little change in their real-estate tax bills this year, despite a projected budget shortfall. In a 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the Board of Supervisors agreed to advertise a “modified, equalized rate” of 84 cents per $100 of assessed value. If that rate is approved, the average homeowner’s real-estate tax bill would rise only $17. The existing rate is 70 cents per $100 of assessed value, but this year’s reassessment lowered property values in the county. The county staff proposed a rate of 89.8 cents to help offset a potential $30 million budget shortfall next year. That increase would have increased the average homeowner’s tax bill by $206. Spotsylvania County supervisors have advertised a 6-cent real-estate tax increase, to 62 cents. Fredericksburg’s proposed budget calls for a 5-cent increase, to 58 cents. The supervisors’ decision sends county staff back to work cutting the proposed $578,882,082 budget to take into account the lower revenues. Each penny on the tax rate generates about $1.5 million. County Administrator Anthony Romanello urged the board Tuesday night to reconsider the equalized rate, which would leave the county about $9 million in the hole next year. Instead, supervisors asked county staff to find additional cuts—but not to public safety departments or the school system. Board members also discussed giving up pay raises they received Jan. 1. Their annual salaries were increased from $20,500 to $25,000 and the chairman’s pay rose from $21,000 to $25,900. Erasing a $9 million deficit would require a 15 percent cut across all non-school and safety county agencies, according to Romanello. It amounts to the salaries of about 180 county employees—“people we would have to send home July 1,” he said. “That’s dramatic,” the administrator added. His proposed 2009 budget does not call for any new positions, but Romanello planned to fill vacancies, except for five openings in Code Administration. “Vacancy savings are one of the few hedges that we have if the economy does turn worse, even more than it currently is,” he said. Supervisors encouraged Romanello to keep vacancies unfilled to save money. “I understand it’s not new positions, but it is new people,” said Rock Hill Supervisor Cord Sterling.
Supervisors Paul Milde, George Schwartz and Bob Woodson voted against the 84-cent rate. Woodson said it could have “unintended consequences.” “This would adversely affect the amount and level of services the county offers to its constituents,” he said. “Is that what we want to do?”
Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977 khosh@freelancestar.com
BPOLs Time Has Come
(posted by
tpaine1801
, Apr. 2, 2008 8:24 pm)
If the costs of BPOL are assumed by consumers, then items at Giant, Walmart, Starbuck's etc should be cheaper in Stafford than in Fredburg and Spotsy.They aren't. In fact please cite one tangible example of something costing more outside of Stafford because of BPOLs trikle down effect. I'm tired of this old refrain of no taxes ever and goernment spends too much. It usually comes from folks who don't believe in necessary services or the common good.Time to give homeowners a break, businesses need to pony up.
BPOLs Time Has Come
(posted by
tpaine1801
, Apr. 2, 2008 8:17 pm)
If the costs of BPOL are assumed by consumers, then items at Giant, Walmart, Starbuck's etc should be cheaper in Stafford than in Fredburg and Spotsy.They aren't. In fact please cite one tangible example of something costing more outside of Stafford because of BPOLs trikle down effect. I'm tired of this old refrain of no taxes ever and goernment spends too much. It usually comes from folks who don't believe in necessary services or the common good.Time to give homeowners a break, busnissess need to pony up.
Mr. Fetterolf
(posted by
MtMav
, Apr. 2, 2008 7:27 pm)
Have you posted those 7th; 11th stats before??? They seem new (?). Discouraging buisnesses from locating in Staff is *NOT* the issue as you suggest. That arguement is a "red herring." The issue is who ultimately pays for BPOL. Buisnesses will not "eat" new or higher taxes. The tax is simply passed on to the consumers of goods and services from those buisnesses. The $240M you listed was paid by the P.W., Fred., Spot. consumers. We are not undertaxed. Gov. overspends at all levels (especially the Fed.).
Fund priorities First
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Apr. 2, 2008 3:58 pm)
How can the 7th wealthiest state and the county with the 11th highest per capita income in the US not afford enough police, firemen and teachers? Don't you fund priorities first? A BPOL would raise $7.8M and not drive away new business (pure hysterical fiction) . A look at historical facts shows a steady 14 year growth history in PrWm, Fredericksburg and Spotsy. Over the last 14 years our neighbors have collected a total of $240M compared to Stafford's $0.
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