Looming tax increases concern Spotsylvania supervisors; board may hold budget retreat

Date published: 8/26/2008

By DAN TELVOCK

Nancy Tuning was hoping to hit the jackpot.

The 62-year-old Spotsylvania County resident, who is on disability and a fixed income, squinted to see if her scratch-off lottery ticket had any good news.

It didn't.

Tuning, who lives in the Stoneybrook subdivision, needs the extra cash after she opened her higher-than-expected real estate assessment this spring. The prospect that county supervisors could raise taxes in coming years in a sluggish economy makes her cringe.

"I would not be happy about it," she said. "When [supervisors] say people need to do some belt tightening, maybe they should do some, too."

Allen Hays, 60, understands Tuning's situation. He said when he gets an increase in his Social Security check, his Medicare costs rise.

"So, I get nothing," said Hays, who is also on a fixed income. He said he can't remember a time as rough as now. Everything is increasing, he said.

"So, if they raise taxes, yeah, it's a hardship," said Hays, who lives off Jennings Lane in the Courthouse area.

Raising taxes is exactly what the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors faces for the next five years, according to a recent preliminary report from budget and finance officers. In total, county residents could see their real estate tax bills jump by 25 percent, including a possible 7-cent tax increase in the upcoming budget.

Supervisors face the pressure of having to balance school funding with paying for roads, parks and public safety for the 120,000 or so county residents. The pressure becomes worse in the sluggish economy, when revenue, such as sales tax and building fees, is not meeting projections.

The recent report concerned supervisors enough that some are considering taking the unusual step of scheduling a budget retreat.

Supervisor Gary Jackson said the county government cannot continue to grow during an economic malaise.

"Honestly, I think some very hard decisions are going to have to be made," he said.

One point of discussion will be whether to delay major projects in the pipeline, such as the new courthouse and public safety building.

Supervisor Benjamin Pitts, who suggested the retreat, said it concerns him that the tax increases would be necessary just to balance the budget with no new projects or services.

Hays is not convinced a retreat will help.

"No matter what we say, they are going to raise the taxes," he said.

Supervisors will get a preliminary picture of the fiscal year 2010 budget during a Sept. 23 work session. Pitts said he hopes a retreat is scheduled after that meeting.

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 8/26/2008

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