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Spotsylvania mulls lower tax rate
Spotsylvania to advertise 96-cent tax rate, but hopes to lower it furtherDate published: 3/10/2004
Spotsylvania County supervisors voted yesterday to advertise a real-estate tax rate of 96 cents--5 cents less than the current levy but one that would raise the tax bills of most homeowners by almost 13 percent. Though the board unanimously approved the advertised rate, most said they hope to lower it. Supervisor Emmitt Marshall noted that the board can formally approve a lower rate than advertised, but not a higher one. "I'm in favor of a rate much lower than that," Supervisor T.C. Waddy said. The board has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2005 budget and the tax rate for 7:30 p.m. March 25 at Courtland High School. It hopes to approve the budget and tax rate April 13. The tax rate is a sensitive issue this year because of a property reassessment that saw residential values jump almost 20 percent, not including new construction. To keep tax bills the same as last year, the board would have to drop the current rate of $1.01 per $100 of assessed value to 85 cents. With a rate of 96 cents, tax bills would increase an average of almost 13 percent. "I am completely in favor of an 85-cent tax rate as equalization would be," Supervisor Chris Yakabouski said. "I hope we can get to that." Supervisor Vince Onorato responded by saying, "We'll start at 96 and move toward 85 cents." None of the supervisors expressed eagerness for 96 cents as the final rate. Supervisor Gary Jackson noted the public hearing will play a vital role in the process. The board also heard budget requests from the county's constitutional officers. Commonwealth's Attorney Bill Neely pleaded for an additional assistant prosecutor, telling the board his office had seen a 65 percent increase in its felony caseload since he added his last assistant five years ago. The position is not included in the budget proposed by County Administrator Randy Wheeler. Neely said he believes one reason was because of space considerations, which he said he could alleviate by putting two people in one office.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 3/10/2004
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