Supervisors cut property tax rate

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a budget markup package for FY 2024 on May 2 that reduces the real estate tax rate by 1.5 cents and fully funds the county employee compensation plan.

The board will formally adopt the budget on May 9 but is not expected to change anything.

“This budget recognizes the impacts of inflation on our residents and our ability to recruit and retain employees,” said board chair Jeff McKay.

The 2024 advertised budget proposed by County Executive Bryan Hill in February would have retained the current property tax rate of $1.11 per $100 of assessed value resulting in an average tax bill of $520. The budget marked up by the board reduces that to $412.

Rising property values, however, resulted in assessments increasing an average of 6.79 percent for all homes and 7.8 percent for single-family detached homes in 2023.

The Board of Supervisors also changed the way car taxes are assessed. For the second year in a row, personal property would be assessed at 90 percent, instead of 100 percent, of the market value for tax year 2023.

This would result in cutting car tax bills by more than 18 percent, or about $68, on average. Vehicle values dropped nearly 10 percent this year compared to 2022.

The FY 2024 budget provides a 5.44 percent market rate adjustment for county employees, up from the 2 percent increase in the advertised budget.

That increase, along with step and merit increases would result in an average raise of 7.5 percent for general county employees and 7.83 percent for uniformed public safety employees.

The budget also includes a 5 percent scale adjustment for uniformed police officers and eliminates the first step on that scale. Those changes result in a combined increase of over 15 percent in the police department’s minimum starting salary. Pay increases for incumbent police officers will average 12.83 percent.

Among other budget highlights:

• $500,000 would be allocated to increase support for two hotlines for individuals attempting to flee domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking.

• $350,000 would would go to nonprofit projects that make home repairs and accessibility modifications to help low and moderate-income homeowners, particularly seniors and those with disabilities, remain in their homes.

• $300,000 would support the replacement of the playground at Lake Accotink Park.

• The board previously approved $900,000 in its third-quarter review to manage tree health and remove invasive plants on park property. The 2024 budget markup includes an additional $152,642 for bamboo mitigation in parks and $293,463 for forestry operations.

• $114,640 supports the operation of a mobile nature center program, with vehicles anticipated to be paid through sponsorships. This program will enhance equitable access to park resources by bringing unique experiences to communities with little green space.

• $300,000 in recurring funding would support the maintenance of girls’ softball fields as recommended by the Girls’ Fastpitch Softball Equity Action Plan Review Team.

• A funding increase of $200,000 would support operations for ArtsFairfax.

• $96,000 would be allocated for a new Self-Help Resource Center within the Law Library at the Fairfax County Courthouse. It would provide legal information to people unable to afford a lawyer or secure pro bono help.