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Spotsy supervisors pass budget with a 6-cent real estate tax hike
CORRECTION: The additional tax relief Spotsylvania supervisors approved Thursday night for elderly and disabled residents could be as much as $164, and the net worth that can be deducted was increased $50,000 to $150,000. The changes become effective Jan. 1, 2009. The amount of the additional relief allowed was incorrect in the original published version.
BY DAN TELVOCK
Spotsylvania supervisors last night provided more funding in the fiscal year 2009 budget for the schools, public safety and social services. They also approved more tax relief for the elderly and disabled, and gave county employees a 2-percent cost-of-living raise. But these gains all came at a cost to others, in what several supervisors said was the most difficult budget in decades. The Board of Supervisors adopted a 62-cent tax rate--a 6-cent hike--on a 4-3 vote. Supervisors Gary Jackson, Jerry Logan and T.C. Waddy were the dissenting votes; they wanted an equalized tax rate of 56 cents to keep property tax bills flat. The county board passed a $436 million budget on a 5-2 vote, with Jackson and Logan voting no. The budget is about 2.7 percent larger than the current spending plan. "Considering both current and projected economic constraints, I believe we have a responsibility to curb spending and direct our limited resources to meet our essential needs as efficiently as possible," Jackson said in explaining why he supported an equalized tax rate. "I also believe we can and should fulfill this responsibility without imposing an 11 percent increase in the local tax burden." Spotsylvania residents will see a 6-cent increase with the adopted tax rate. A person owning a $300,000 home will pay an additional $180 a year. Human resources and general services departments will run without directors. And all regional nonprofit agencies will get 4 percent less than they did this year, a $330,000 cut. "We haven't had new funding in two years," said Ben Nagle, the executive director of the Rappahannock Area Office on Youth, which provides juvenile delinquency prevention services. But, Nagle said this option is better than the 8 percent cut supervisors had discussed. Supervisor Emmitt Marshall got support to give an additional $2 million to the school system, which was still $6.2 million less than it requested. Supervisors approved additional tax relief for the elderly and disabled who can claim up to $134 more in local tax exemptions. Supervisor Hap Connors made cuts so the sheriff can hire a D.A.R.E officer and school resource officer, two detectives and buy six vehicles, all totaling about $700,000. He also made cuts to fund two social workers and an eligibility worker for the Department of Social Services, and career staffing for a new fire station in the Salem District at $575,000. Supervisor Benjamin Pitts also made some cuts to assist in funding some of these positions. "I can defend this budget and a 62 [-cent] rate," Connors said. "I know we are in an economic slump, and I'm not insensitive to the whole issue of taxes." The director of Social Services, Loraine Lemoine, said she was pleased with the additional staffing she will get. "This does help because of the recession and the increasing workload. This is positive news," she said. Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 4/11/2008
does any one know what tax breaks older people and the disabled will be getting?
not to renew the Bush tax cut. When that happens if you file a tax return you will pay 40% more. If you sell stocks your capital gains will be taxed at the full income tax rate. That could be double to triple what you pay now. Dividends taxed at 15%? No more, same as the regular rate. And guess what! Over 30% of Americans don't pay any income taxes at all and actually get a tax refund after paying ZIP. It's called the earned income credit. Coulda fooled me. PS There is no inflation per Bernanke!
Current overall budget is about $546K, Spotsy BOS contributes $37,348 (less with 4% cut for 09). The rest of funding comes from Fred/Caroline/KG/Stafford local budgets, some State aid, State and Fed grants, user fees, contracted services with some Northern Neck localities, and special projects with other agencies. Feel free to email me if you have further questions (ben@officeonyouth.org).
your post was interesting. Your Org gets only 7% of its funding from Spotsy. From where do you get the other 93%? And just how much money is that?
Put that in a Mission Statement because that is a fact. My property appraisal is the same as two years ago but it is worth 15% less and they raised the tax rate 11%. A lot of us taxpayers in Spotsy have exactly the same problem. The previous poster is clearly someone who does not pay attention to what is really going on. We need to vote out Hap Conners and his tax happy buddies.
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