|
|
||
Colonial Beach proposed budget includes tax increases Date published: 6/2/2009
BY FRANK DELANO
Taxes on real estate, boats and cigarettes may all go up in Colonial Beach if a proposed $15-million budget is enacted later this month by Town Council. Council's proposed budget also cuts $186,000 from the $2.16 million in local funds requested by the town school board. "Based on this budget, we're probably going to have to get rid of some people," said School Board Chairman Timothy J. Trivett.
Facing a $187,947 projected shortfall in its general operating revenues, Council decided yesterday to advertise a 3-cent increase in the town's present real estate tax rate of 60 cents per $100 of assessed value. If adopted, the hike could bring in $121,488 in additional revenue. Council also agreed to a boat tax of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value. In recent years, the town has taxed boats at a token rate of 1 cent per $100 dollars. The proposed boat tax would generate about $50,000 in new revenue. Council voted down a boat-tax increase in November when marina owners said it would drive away boats and business from the town. Nearly 500 boats are registered in Colonial Beach. When combined with the town's share of Westmoreland County's personal property tax, owners of boats in Colonial Beach will pay a total tax of $3.36 per $100 of the value of their boats. Boat owners in the county pay $3.00. Rushing to meet a June 30 deadline to adopt the town's budget and tax rates, council set June 17 as the date of a 5:30 p.m. public hearing. Council also set a June 25 special meeting to adopt the budget and rates. But town officials warned that the stormy economic weather may not be over. Town Manager Val Foulds said it was likely the town's budget for this year would likely end up in the red. Some of the reasons for that, she said, were the delay in raising water and sewer rates, under-estimating the cost of employee benefits and unanticipated expenses. "I don't think this is as bad as it's going to get," Chief Financial Officer Joan Grant said of the town's financial straits. "I think we're going to get hit again in December and next June." That's when the town's tax payments are due. The town recently sent out $1 million in tax bills that are due this month. She said she had noticed an increase in delinquent tax bills compared to last year. Frank Delano: 804/761-4300
You raise taxes and you have more deliquent taxes; thus you raise taxes again and you have even more deliquent taxes, and.....I am being taxed out of my home.
|
|
|||||||||||
