Tag: taxes
School funds, meals tax among issues raised at Budget Town Hall
Long The Mason District Budget Town Hall March 26 offered a clash of opinions over spending on schools. The proposed 4-cent property tax increase in the advertised budget for FY 2017 approved by the Board of Supervisors last month would go a long way toward helping the county meet the needs of Fairfax County Public … Continued
The Fairfax County budget: 10 things you need to know
The slogan for school funding advocates. (1) The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board are engaged in a contentious conflict about how much of a funding increase should go to the public school system. The budget proposed by Deputy County Executive Ed Long proposes transferring $1.88 billion to FCPS for operating expenses, an … Continued
Real estate assessments up 1.6 percent
The average assessment for homes in Annandale is up 1.89 percent. More than half of residential real estate in Fairfax County (55 percent) increased in value over the year due to equalization, with an average increase of 1.64 percent. The county is in the process of mailing homeowners updated real estate assessments for 2016. You … Continued
Free tax help available
If you’re starting to get anxious about filing your taxes, calm down. Free assistance is available to lower-income taxpayers through the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The deadline for filing federal taxes this year is Monday, April 18, because Emancipation Day, April 16, is a holiday in the … Continued
Gross, Loeffler clash over school plan for Willston Center
From the left: Penny Gross, Mollie Loeffler, Sandy Evans, and a League of Women Voters representative. Plans for a school at the Willston Center in Seven Corners drew the most heat at a candidate forum featuring Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, challenger Mollie Loeffler, and school board member Sandy Evans Oct. 21 sponsored by the League … Continued
Board of Supervisors approves budget for FY 2016
The Fairfax County Government Center. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors made a few changes April 21 in the FY 2016 advertised budget presented by County Deputy Ed Long, restoring several human service programs, adding some money for Fairfax County Public Schools, and increasing supervisors’ pay. The nearly $4 billion marked-up budget will be formally … Continued
Painful funding cuts outlined at Mason Budget Town Hall
From the left: Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, school board member Sandy Evans, and County Executive Ed Long. Of all the funding cuts in the Fairfax County advertised budget for 2016, one will hit some Annandale families especially hard: The budget would terminate the Annandale Adult Day Care Center located in the former Annandale Elementary School … Continued
Phone scammers claiming to be from Sheriff’s Office
The Fairfax County Sheriffs Office is warning residents about telephone scammers, identifying themselves as sheriff’s deputies, threatening people with arrest unless they pay the caller a large amount of money. The scammers usually demand payment via Green Dot MoneyPak or wire transfers through Western Union. Some of the scammers are referencing the Internal Revenue Service … Continued
Free tax help available
Need help with your taxes? Eligible taxpayers are encouraged to take advantage of free tax preparation assistance in the Annandale/Mason area. Volunteers from the AARP Tax-Aide program will be stationed at the Mason District Government Center (6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale) through April 15 to help taxpayers on a walk-in basis. The program is free for … Continued
2015 real estate assessment up 5.5 percent in Annandale
Annandale has the highest average increase in assessments. Fairfax County real estate assessments for 2015 rose an average of 3.39 percent for residential properties, the Department of Tax Administration announced Feb. 17. Assessments for properties in Annandale (zip code 22003) rose an average of 5.45 percent – which is more than any other zip code … Continued
Plastic bag tax fails in Virginia General Assembly
Plastic bags clog a stream feeding into the Chesapeake Bay. By Elizabeth Kirchner Despite widespread grassroots support and the possibility of about $20 million in annual revenue dedicated to Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, a bill establishing a 5-cent “plastic bag tax” failed to get out of committee Jan 21. The bill, introduced in the Virginia … Continued
Congressional candidates share views on economy, guns, and climate change
Suzanne Scholte Residents of the 11th congressional district packed a meeting room at the Fairfax Regional Library Sept. 10 to hear from the three candidates challenging Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) in the November election. The participants were Republican Suzanne Scholte, Green Party candidate Joe Galdo, and Libertarian Marc Harrold. The session was hosted by the … Continued
Back-to-school tax holiday this weekend
School doesn’t start until Sept. 2, but if you want to take advantage of Virginia’s back-to-school tax holiday, you’ve got to start shopping this weekend. Shoppers won’t be charged sales tax for eligible clothing and school supplies purchased on Friday, Aug. 1, through Sunday, Aug. 3. To qualify for the tax break, articles of clothing … Continued
Fairfax County economy mostly stable
A new report on the economic health of Fairfax County by the county’s Department of Management and Budget shows slight improvements in some indicators, while others are down a bit or unchanged. Here are some key findings: The unemployment rate in Fairfax County decreased from 4.1 percent in March 2014 to 3.6 percent in April … Continued
Task force fails to reach a consensus on a meals tax referendum
An anti-meals tax sign at Silverado’s in Annandale. Many restaurant owners oppose a meals tax, while advocates for more funding for schools, libraries, the arts, and social services support it. A task force appointed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova to consider whether a meals tax referendum should be put on the … Continued