Proposed budget would raise real estate taxes and impose a new admissions tax
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| The Fairfax County Government Center |
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill presented an FY 2021 advertised budget to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 25 that calls for a 3-cent increase in the real estate tax rate and a new 4 percent admissions tax.
The 3-cent increase would bring the real estate tax rate to $1.18 per $100 of assessed value. The average annual tax bill would rise by approximately $346.
One-third of the increase would be earmarked for affordable housing. That would generate approximately $26.5 million and would triple the amount of county funds for affordable housing.
The proposed 4 percent admissions tax would apply to the sale of movie, theater, and concert tickets. It would take effect in October and would generate approximately $2.31 million in revenue in the first year, which would be used for arts and tourism.
Related story: Real estate assessments rise 2.65 percent
Hill proposed a general fund budget of $4.63 billion, a $175.87 million increase (3.95 percent) over the budget adopted for FY 2020.
The budget plan includes an $85.72 million increase (3.65 percent) in the amount of county funds transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools. The FCPS advertised budget approved by the school Feb. 6 requests a 4.2 percent increase in transfer funds.
Related story: Superintendent seeks more money for schools
Hill’s presentation on the budget discussed funding recommendations based on the nine priority areas in the countywide strategic plan, which was also released on Feb. 25. Those priority areas are:
- Cultural and recreational opportunities
- Economic opportunity
- Effective and efficient government
- Empowerment/support for residents facing vulnerability
- Lifelong education and learning
- Health and environment
- Mobility and transportation
- Housing and neighborhood livability
- Safety and security
For example, to promote the education and learning priority, the budget proposes an expansion of the new Early Childhood Birth to 5 Fund and a $25 million bond referendum for early childhood facilities.
In the safety and security area, the budget would fund body-worn cameras for the police officers. And to support the cultural and recreational opportunities priority, the budget would expand library hours and provide scholarship assistance for park programs.
The proposed budget includes a 2.06 percent market rate adjustment for all county employees, performance and longevity increases averaging 2 percent for merit non-uniformed employees, and merit and longevity increases averaging 2.25 percent for merit uniformed public safety employees.
According to Hill, funding for increased compensation is due in part to savings resulting from employees selecting lower-cost health care plans. Combined, savings in health insurance and retiree health benefits total more than $11 million.
The advertised plan also includes 177 new county positions.
The Board of Supervisors will hold hearings on the budget April 14-16 and will adopt a budget on May 5.
2 responses to “Proposed budget would raise real estate taxes and impose a new admissions tax”
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Disgusting.
This country is turning to a social sxxthole.
More and more taxes, fewer freedoms.
Who the hell have elected these representatives?
So … in order to provide affordable housing they're going to make MY house unaffordable? That makes a LOT of sense! Not only did they raise my assessment by 3.33% but to add salt to the wound they are going to raise the tax rate? Every year they seem to be raising SOMETHING to make my home less affordable for me to live in. I will be forced to leave the County so that others with less income than me (which is less than the median income for this County) can afford to live here. Perhaps they can look at frivolous SPENDING within the County Government instead of gouging the residents? I've had to do without a LOT of 'comforts' in order to purchase my home and provide for our family. It hurts to see them pouring more and more money into lavish workspaces instead of where the County needs it most, i.e., Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, etc. Something else has to give. They already ran my parents and many of my friends and their parents out of the County with their high taxes and now it is literally hitting home with me. I sign this anonymously because I have already learned first hand how hateful people can be when my views are not in line with theirs and I do not want to endanger my household again.