Issue brief:

County taxes

Don't be fooled: A 6-cent cut in the tax rate doesn't mean your taxes will be reduced!

TAX CALCULATOR
Taxes will go up more than 10% for the average homeowner this year . . . again. The 6-cent rate reduction doesn't begin to offset higher assessments!
How much more will you pay?
Look up your property online. Then enter your assessment values from 2005 and 2006. See how much you'll pay under the Board's decision -- then compare that to the 9- and 10-cent reductions which many had advocated. Step 1: 2005 taxes • 2005 assessment: $,000 • Tax rate: $0.878 (per $1000) • County tax bill: $ Step 2: 2006 taxes • 2006 assessment: $,000 • Tax rate: 0.818 [Co. Bd. rate] 0.788 [9-cent rate cut] 0.778 [10-cent rate cut] • County tax bill: $ Bottom line: Tax increase • You'll pay $ more. • That's % higher than 2005.

Spending up 10%. Taxes up 10%. When will it end?

Property taxes are placing the squeeze on thousands of Arlington homeowners and businesses. Real estate assessments have been rising sharply, but the one-party County Board has provided only small reductions in the tax rate. The bottom line is higher tax burdens for Arlington taxpayers, and increases in County spending far beyond inflation.

Assessments are up again in 2006, averaging 18% for most residential properties. But the all-Democrat County Board decided in April to provide only a 6-cent reduction in the real estate tax rate.

The Board's decision means yet another double-digit tax increase for Arlington homeowners. This year, it's up by 10% -- more than $400 -- for the average homeowner. And that's on top of double-digit increases in Arlington taxes each year since 2001. (See news articles.)

We believe the County Board can and should have done more to control spending and provide some degree of relief to hard-pressed taxpayers. The non-partisan Civic Federation recommended reducing the tax rate by 9 cents (to $0.788 per $1000); other spending watchdogs suggested a cutback of 10-11 cents. The larger reductions would have offset much of the latest assessment increase, while still supporting important county services and allowing a modest growth in the budget.

However, the all-Democrat County Board refused to reduce spending, sticking taxpayers with higher bills again in 2006. And it's not just homeowners who will pay. The Board also voted to increase the unpopular car tax, as well as real estate taxes.

Compare the jursidictions

Taxes are going up faster in Arlington than in other Northern Virginia communities. Property assessments have been increasing rapidly throughout the region, but other governments have provided larger rate reductions to their hard-pressed homeowners:

• Loudoun County: 15-cent reduction (final)
• Prince William County: 15-cent reduction (tentative)
• Fairfax County: 11-cent reduction (final)
• Alexandria City: 10-cent reduction (tentative)
• Arlington County: 6-cent reduction (final)

Arlington used to have the lowest real estate tax rate in Northern Virginia -- a marginal claim, in light of high property values in the County, which led to some of the highest tax bills in the region. But now, even that small claim is gone, with Prince William and Alexandria both expected to approve rates lower than Arlington's.

What you can do:
• Make your voice heard. Write a letter to the editor. Talk with your neighbors. Tell folks you've had it with double-digit tax increaes in Arlington.
• Elect a County Board member who will listen to taxpayers. Vote for our Republican candidate this fall!
 

This message paid for and authorized by the Arlington County Republican Committee.