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, last year, Arlington property taxes increased by 9%, through a combination of higher assessments and an increased tax rate; and

Whereas, the latest assessments in Arlington show an 10% increase in property values -- which will mean an 10% increase in taxes paid this year by Arlington residents and property owners, unless the County acts to provide relief in the tax rate; and

Whereas, in recent years, most jurisdictions in the metropolitan area (including other counties in Virginia) have managed to reduce their tax rates on one or more occasions, to provide tax relief to their citizens; and

Whereas, Arlington has consistently failed to provide any reduction in tax rates for Arlington citizens and property owners; 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; and

Now, therefore, the Arlington County Republican Committee resolves:

We call on the Arlington County Board to commit now to providing measurable relief this year in the real estate property tax rate, to offset the increase in property assessments; 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 January 25, 2001, in Arlington, Virginia.

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