County Board of Supervisors Approves Tax Rate Increase

Despite a flurry of public pleas by teachers, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will advertise a tax rate of $1.215  per $100 of assessed property value, an increase from $1.204 in 2012.

The new tax rate, which would raise taxes by $9 a month for the average homeowner, passed the Prince William County Board of Supervisors Wed. by a vote of 6-2.

Chairman Corey Stewart and Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland opposed the motion

“I want to be clear that I will not support a budget that raises taxes,” said Candland. “Prince William County families continue to feel the pinch in all of this. We have the duty to match the courage that those families have shown here."

Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington voted to approve the tax rate, saying he would reserve the right to further scrutinize the budget before it comes up for a formal vote.

Covington implied that Richmond should provide the tax money the schools require.

“I think somehow we need to send Richmond a message that we’re not getting our fair share back here,” said Covington. “We have to work together with the school board to figure some of this out; We have to take a harder look at the school budget."

However, if the Supervisors were to increase the advertised rate, it needed to be decided at this meeting, as the tax rate can only be decreased in the final budget to be approved on April 24.

In an attempt to provide the School Division with addition revenue, Supervisor Frank Principi of the Woodbridge District motioned to increase the proposed tax rate 3/10 of one percent. The increased tax rate of 1.218 percent would provide an addition $1 million for schools.

However, the board had no assurance from the Prince William County School Board that any tax increases would be earmarked for teachers’ salaries.

Occoquan District Supervisor Michael May opposed the motion, stating, “It’s a very, very small amount of money, and I think we should support recommendation."

Teachers who spoke at the beginning of the meeting hoped to sway the board to increase taxes, which might provide teachers with their step and cost of living raises that they have not received in three years.

Many expressed the hardship they or their colleagues have experienced due to low salaries. They compared Prince William County to nearby districts, which had raised taxes to fund education in their districts.

Further they warned that a loss of a “world class education” due to insufficient funding of the educational system would affect all Prince William residents, decreasing home prices and hurting businesses.