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Board caps tax rate at $1
Finally – a starting point for the tax rate.
In a very short emergency meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to advertise a tax rate, essentially forestalling a government shutdown.
On a 5-3 vote, the supervisors compromised on a $1 maximum real estate tax rate. The rate could later be set lower, but not higher.
The compromise came after County Executive Craig Gerhart told supervisors that the school board has reworked its budget to cut expenditures without hurting plans for teacher pay raises. With the school system needing less than previously announced, some of the supervisors said they were more comfortable moving down a little.
The school board's budget had been based on a $1.03 rate. County Executive Craig Gerhart had proposed a rate of $1.01 and some of the supervisors have been unwilling to go higher than 96.8 cents. The $1 compromise, which had been rejected before, was the result of a growing concern that the county was headed for trouble if the supervisors didn't get moving.
Gerhart said it was “vitally important” that the board act on Tuesday. They first rejected a $1.03 rate on a 5-3 vote. Then they rejected $1.02 and $1.01 on the same vote. Dumfries Supervisor Maureen Caddigan (R), Neabsco Supervisor John Jenkins (D) and Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi (D) voted in favor of all three rates but were opposed by the other five supervisors.
When they hit on $1 though, the logjam was broken. Caddigan said she thought the rate was too low but acknowledged that “we have to have a budget.”
Occoquan Supervisor Mike May (R), who proposed $1 last week, said he thinks it's too high but suggested it last week as a compromise and said he still sees it as a starting point.
Coles Supervisor Marty Nohe (R) said he believes that employee pay raises, public safety and the capital improvements plan are “nonnegotiable” and must be funded this year. He agreed to support the $1 proposal because he believes that rate can support his nonnegotiables.
In the end, Caddigan, Jenkins, May, Nohe and Principi voted in favor of the $1 rate. Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R), Gainesville Supervisor John Stirrup (R) and Chairman Corey Stewart (R) all voted against it.
Coming up
But though it was the culmination of four weeks of haggling, Tuesday's vote was just a starting point.
That vote merely instructs officials to advertise a public hearing and to state in the advertisement that the supervisors are considering a maximum tax rate of $1 per $100 of assessed value.
The advertisement is legally required in order to have a public hearing and the public hearing is legally required before supervisors can adopt a budget and tax rate.
The public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 7 at the McCoart Building and citizens can speak out on the tax rate and budget. After that, supervisors will spend the next few weeks adjusting the budget and deciding on a final tax rate, which cannot be higher than $1.
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