Spotsy facing increase in taxes the numbers
Spotsylvania looking at tax increases to balance budget over next five years
By DAN TELVOCK
Date published: 8/13/2008
By DAN TELVOCK
Spotsylvania County residents could see the real estate tax rate increase by as much as 15 cents in five years if the economy doesn't improve. That would boost the average real estate tax bill by more than 24 percent.
And that's just to balance the budget.
Budget officers said during last night's Board of Supervisors meeting that revenue projections continue to fall short in the sluggish economy. They recommended that supervisors make all general government departments and the school system reduce current spending by 1 percent to make up a $1.1 million shortfall in the fund balance.
The fund balance is an emergency reserve that is 10 percent of the county's net operating revenue. That amount is recommended by bond agencies to help the county achieve the triple-A bond rating that allows for lower-interest borrowing.
A 1 percent reduction amounts to $1.19 million for the school system and $477,912 for county departments, leaving a $600,026 cushion. Budget officers said they do not expect the economy to improve until late 2010.
"This is about as bad as it gets," said Supervisor Jerry Logan.
Supervisor Emmitt Marshall said the Code Compliance Department is the only one that had layoffs. Deputy County Administrator Ernie Pennington said two employees resigned, one transferred and five were laid off in Code Compliance.
"What happened to the people in Planning? Are they going to take a hit?" Marshall asked. "We sure have to be fair about this."
Logan said because real estate assessments increased this year, the adopted tax rate of 62 cents is a 6-cent tax increase. He asked county budget officers and County Administrator Randy Wheeler to craft the fiscal year 2010 budget without a tax increase.
"I would be very reluctant to increase the real estate tax rate again. If there is any possible way of avoiding that, I would like to see some scenarios to reflect that," Logan said.
Supervisors agreed to enact the 1 percent reductions. If the school system cannot reduce its spending by 1 percent, budget officers said all county departments would need to reduce their spending by 3.5 percent.
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
| The Numbers
Spotsylvania County's five-year budget projections indicate tax increases would be required every year to balance the budget if economic conditions do not improve. The current tax rate is 62 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Projections include:
A 6.7-cent increase in fiscal year 2010.
A 3.4-cent increase in fiscal year 2011.
A 2.4-cent increase in fiscal year 2012.
A 2.5-cent increase in fiscal year 2013.
A 0.2-cent increase in fiscal year 2014.
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Date published: 8/13/2008
Most recent reader comments:
what a joke our county has become
(posted by
postoak
, Aug. 19, 2008 9:16 am)
well with the schools know being built like the resorts at massenutten, whats werong with simple i went to chancellor middle which looks like a jail but got the same education. and the fire houses are looking like a new age taj mahal what a joke this county has become!! and for local small buisness owners you might as well forget it, working with this county is like trying to pull teeth! lets hope we all rememeber this come election time! the old timers need to go and the corporate slicks should step aside
change
(posted by
1958
, Aug. 18, 2008 10:36 pm)
who said we needed change or wanted it,spotsy has to look like a show room to get by,we have to much waste in goverment and to much bubdy buddy systems in place
Well, if we are not
(posted by
Sled505
, Aug. 16, 2008 6:16 am)
in a recession yet, Spotsylvania is sure to tax us into one. Evidently, unlike the rest of the county's populous who tighten their belts during slow economic times, the Spotsy board of taxation wants to spend it's way out economic difficulties.
Here's a novel idea, SPEND LESS = TAX LESS
Hold the thought expressed...
(posted by
gramps
, Aug. 15, 2008 5:51 am)
in your last sentence Jason. Remember it when you enter the voting booth. It applies at ALL levels of representative government these days.
But we have to face facts
(posted by
jasonmva
, Aug. 14, 2008 10:43 am)
while I too hate taxes being increased every year, we have to face the facts that society is changing. What worked years ago may not work today. There is always continuous change. And those changes cost money. The same people complaining about new schools being built are the same ones saying the current schools are overcrowded and they don't want there kids learning in a trailer. I agree w/Southwest, we all voted for these changes. Maybe it is time for some new blood in office.
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