Whereas, for more than a decade, Arlington County real estate taxes have increased every year, through increases in the tax rate, assessment increases, or both, and

Whereas, real estate tax assessments for 2002 in Arlington are up by 15 percent over last year,

Whereas, at current tax rates, the increased assessments will generate an additional $36 million for the County government, more than twice the increase projected by the County last fall; and

Whereas, the increased tax assessments are particularly burdensome to residential property owners, with assessments on single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums rising by 20-25%; and

Whereas, if tax rates are not reduced, the average residential property owner will be hit with a 20 percent increase in County property taxes this year (from $2300 to $2750); and

Whereas, the tax burden is now increasing more rapidly, with tax bills rising nearly five times as much in the past three years as compared to the previous four years (44% from 1999-2002, at current rates, compared to 9% from 1995-99); and

Whereas, many jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria and Manassas, and Loudoun and Prince William Counties, have decreased their tax rates this year, to partially offset the impact of higher property assessments in the region and provide some tax relief to their citizens; and

Whereas, the all-Democrat County Board has not given any indication of providing tax relief to Arlington citizens this year, despite the sizeable increase in assessments and tax revenues, despite the sizeable new assessment burden and the greater-than-anticipated revenue projection; and

Whereas, the constant increase in Arlington property taxes drives families and businesses out of Arlington, and makes housing less affordable for those who want to live here;

Now, therefore, the Arlington County Republican Committee resolves:

We call on the Arlington County Board to reduce the real estate tax rate by 7 cents; and

We further urge the County Board to hold the line on County spending, by identifying and implementing cost efficiencies and reductions in non-essential services, to permit the reduction in tax rates for Arlington residents this year.

Considered and adopted by the Arlington County Republican Committee
at its monthly meeting on March 28, 2002, in Arlington, Virginia

Return to index of 2002 resolutions