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Personal property tax highlights Spotsy budget discussion Date published: 3/25/2009
BY DAN TELVOCK
A majority of Spotsylvania County supervisors expressed concerns last night about raising the personal property tax rate by the amount recommended in the proposed budget. But they voted to advertise the rate at the recommended level, though they can pass a rate later that is lower. Interim County Administrator Doug Barnes recommended supervisors increase the personal prop- erty tax rate on cars, trailers, boats, motorcycles and RVs from $5 to $6.33 based on 50 percent of the assessed value of the property. He said property values have declined 21 percent. Business vehicles pay 100 percent of the rate. If this proposal is approved, a majority of county residents will see an increase in their bill, some as much as $90 or more. But 30 percent will see a decrease in the bill. This proposal equalizes the tax rate, which means the county brings in the same amount of revenue as it did this current year. After advertising the rate, supervisors cannot increase the rate without additional advertisements and another public hearing. The proposed budget Supervisors' comments during the budget work session worried Sheriff Howard Smith and School Board Chairman Gil Seaux. They said they realize that any additional cuts in the county budget will likely come from their departments. "I don't know what else I can cut," Smith said, after supervisors discussed the proposed $217 million fiscal year 2010 budget. Supervisor Hap Connors failed to win support to advertise a higher real estate tax rate. Supervisors unanimously decided to keep the real estate tax rate at 62 cents and try to equalize that rate at possibly 78 cents next year. Connors said he is anticipating more economic trouble for the next budget because home values have dropped. "I am wondering if we should be advertising a higher [real estate] tax rate knowing full well we will have to do something next year to fix it," he said. But supervisors Gary Jackson, Jerry Logan, Benjamin Pitts and Emmitt Marshall rejected Connor's idea.
Now that we are hiring back school employees with stimulus money,where will the overblown tax rate on cars go?Also what do we get for the 25.00 extra dollers we pay on our vehicles?We no longer have stickers.How many liscences do we need to drive in this county?
If you make it harder for people to afford to live here,they will go elsewhere,and then you will tax the remaining people even more
I agree with establishing standards. I think what "minimum"
is a judgment call on the part of an informed voter
electorate.
Saying that we need - any tax increase to meet some
nebulous, undefined standard is advocating dumb,
uninformed decisions.
And.. we may not be able to meet even DEFINED
minimum standards right away and it will take a structured
plan.. to get there.
How we would do this - is the legitimate business of those
who would have to pay for it.
Sometimes - you choose to pay less, get less
Its not an issue of fully funding. Its a matter of meeting the minimum level of Nationally recognized levels of service, e.g. response time for fire, response time for 911, average teacher salary, number of deputies/1000 residents, etc.
I don't think your information is accurate. There was a three-year initiative to raise teachers' salaries to the tune of $30M. Nonetheless, the school board, a body elected by you and others, determines how to spend their money. You need to contact them about your specific concerns.
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