Board of County Supervisors Pass $1.209 Tax Rate, Catharpin Park Not Funded

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The Prince William County Board of Supervisors approved the 1.209 tax rate and a $914.1 million FY13 budget. The vote was 7-1 with only Gainesville Supervisor Peter Candland (R) voting in opposition.

The supervisors also unanimously approved the raising of the Business Professional and Occupational Tax threshold on businesses with annual revenues of $200,000 to $250,000 to promote business growth in the county.

The tax rate of $1.209 per $100 of assessed value passed only after the defeat of the $1.215 tax rate, which was supported by Supervisors Frank Principi (D), Maureen Caddigan (R) and John Jenkins (D).

Principi spoke in favor of funding education, saying  “You’ve got to look at the facts; we have the largest classroom sizes in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Shame on us.”

When that motion failed, Caddigan expressed her support for the new tax rate, because it accomplishes much of what she supports including a new police and fire station and an increase in employee compensation.

Candland, the freshman supervisor who publicly advocated for a lower tax rate, also endorsed the $3.4 million Catharpin Park for his district, which will not be funded until FY17 according to the newly approved budget.

Although Candland brought suggestions to cut from the budget, John Jenkins  seemed to speak for the board when he said, “Sounds to me that he wants to do a review of the entire budget process.”

Rather than reviewing all of Candland’s suggestions publicly, Chairman Corey Stewart (R) called for a recess.

Candland admitted that he had made mistakes at the Apr. 17 meeting, but said it was a bigger mistake to raise taxes, and implied that the board cut Catharpin Park in retribution for his not getting on board with the 1.209 tax rate.

“I was advised from supervisors and county staff alike that if I did not support a tax increase that funding for Catharpin Park for the Gainesville Library would be in question,” said Candland .

Citing rapid growth in the area, which was initially supported by the BOCS, Candland claims that the Gainesville district needs to play “catch-up” with roads, schools and parks.

“Our money is as green as anybody else’s. Yes, we fight for no tax increase; but if there is a tax increase, like everybody else we shell out our money. And we expect to have the services and parks in our area,” said Candland,

After the 1.209 tax rate passed without the inclusion of Catharpin Park, Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R) volunteered to work with Candland to find the propers to try to fund it, saying that the park would benefit Brentsville residents as well.

While Catharpin Park will not be funded in FY13, it still appears on the Capital Improvement Plan.

“At the end of the day, it is a democratic process. It is not a perfect budget, according to any of us on the board,” said Chairman Stewart “I would have liked to see the rate lower; some of us would like to have seen it higher. There were things I would like to have seen in this budget, such as Catharpin Park. At the end of the day, we have to make things work.”

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