Can it Be True? No Real Tax Hike?
April 5th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News
It seems Stafford county supervisors have agreed to advertise a “modified, equalized rate”. Taxes in Stafford were supposed to go up from 70 cents to 89.8 cents per $100 for assessed value. Even with the large drop in this year’s reassessment values, the average property owner would have seen a tax hike of about $206. If the new
rate of 84 cents is approved then the average property owner’s bill will only go up $17. That’s great news for most people, but the county administrator is not so thrilled. He wants the board to reconsider the rate, since it will leave the county $9 million short next year.
The supervisors have asked county staff to find further cuts - leaving public satefy departments and school funding intact. Board member are willing to forgo this year’s pay raises and suggest that no new hires me made and some positions go unfilled. Some supervisors believe the level of services will be adversely affected. I’m actually very curious to find out if we, the county residents, will really notice a difference in services with a “budget shortfall”. Maybe that’s navie to say, but will it just mean longer lines at the any of the county offices? Or will it be a lot more significant? I guess only time will tell.
In the meantime, Spotsylvania county, with its much higher assessments this year, will see a 6 cent real estate tax increase to 62 cents. Fredericksburg will see a 5 cent increase to 58 cents. Maybe by next assessment cycle the real estate market will be doing a lot better and the pinch won’t be so bad!
