Prin
ce William County residents may be paying more in property taxes in 2013, according to the rate proposed by Prince William County Executive Melissa Peacor.
Property taxes in Prince William County will rise in fiscal year 2013 to $1.215 per $100 of property value. Rates were $1.20 per $100 in 2012.
The average homeowner will pay $110 more per year, or $9 more per month. The average tax bill would be $3,311 for FY 2013.
“This is a flat tax bill in real dollars, meaning that the tax bill is flat when adjusted for inflation,” said Peacor.
Peacor specified property taxes are down 3.7 percent, since FY 2009, or $437 per home when the numbers are adjusted for inflation.
The increase in revenue will provide $20 million more for schools in FY 2013, and the county will receive $15 million more.
The county will increase their expenditure by 0.06 percent with 40 percent of funds going towards capital improvements and 27 percent to support public safety.
Peacor said that the tax burden is “very much a community decision.”
Prince William County’s proposed property taxes are 30 percent lower than the other major jurisdictions in the region: Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax and Alexandria, according to current information.
“We all started at about the same place. The others went up significantly, and Prince William’s growth was more measured,” Peacor said.
Peacor presented the FY2013 Budget and FY2013-17 Five Year Plan to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Feb. 14.
“There’s not doubt about it, times have been tough over the past several years as Prince William, like the rest of the United States has felt the impacts of the Great Recession. These impacts have meant sacrifices for our citizens, our businesses and our employees,” Peacor said.
She described Prince William’s approach as a “culture of efficiency,” where programs were cut and employees were riffed; however, 19 million in budget savings were found for the 2013 revenue year.
While celebrating austerity, the county executive praised county employees, saying the 3500 individuals help Prince William County “to be a place where families want to live, and businesses want to locate.”
She also defended her budget, citing a survey that revealed 83 percent of residents would like to maintain tax rates, and 92 percent responded that they were satisfied with the services in the county.
“Before we ask citizens to spend any new money, we tell you how we save money,” Peacor said.
Despite the recession, the county has maintained a AAA bond rating, resulting in $11.2 million more for the schools and $17.6 million more for the county.
The county is number three for job creation in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; 13 for job growth, according to CNN Money; and one of the top 100 places for young people, according to America’s Promise Alliance and ING.
The Washington Post also named Prince William County as one of two "bright spots" in Northern Virginia, where housing prices held steady or increased in 2012, Peacor said.
Citizens were also pleased with transportation improvement in Prince William, which Peacor called, “the most comprehensive in Virginia.”
Although home values have recently increased Prince William County, the County Board of Supervisors recognized many residents still struggle with upside-down mortgages.
Despite these issues, Peacor reported crime is down in the county and the poverty rate is 5.3 percent, compared to 14 percent nationally.
Furthermore, Prince William County has attracted more technology-related businesses to the county, supported the arts, as well as parks and recreation.
“The biggest challenge you have is balancing the needs and wants of the community with the willingness and ability to pay for those desires,” said Peacor.
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