Last night, after 5 hours of meetings on public safety and utilities, the Council decided to advertise a tax rate of $1.38 for the “main” tax rate and 15.3 cents for the fire levy. What this means is that the rate can go lower than the advertised rate but not higher.
The average residential tax bill, including the levy, would decrease $415.
Sometime in the next day or so I’ll try to summarize the cuts made to the budget and put this in context…
March 12, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Fat chance the rate will go lower.
March 13, 2009 at 8:15 am
The public needs to see a itemized breakdown of just what this 15.3 cents per hundred of fire levy is buying for us.
March 13, 2009 at 11:47 am
David:
What page are you looking at in the budget book? I’m pretty sure it’s there.
March 13, 2009 at 12:15 pm
For what it is worth, I can pretty much guarantee that the final rate will be lower.
March 13, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Historically, Virginia local governing bodies had seven days between
the publishing of a proposed tax rate and the adoption of an actual rate.
Several years ago, the GA extended that to thirty days, no doubt
with the intent of giving citizens more time to comment, but in turbulent
financial periods, creating a challenge for local governments in
finalizing their budgets. Knowing you can always lower the rate, but not
raise it, many bodies are publishing a slightly higher rate than the
one they will most likely finally adopt. Manassas, only partly through
the council budget process, is just learning how the final GA actions
will impact us — including the Federal stimulus package. The Manassas
FY 2009/10 budget is still a work in progress.
March 13, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Mark,
I sure hope you are right.
March 14, 2009 at 5:03 am
One of the things I find most commendable in my City is each year the Budget Book breaks out the tax information: Page 41 (Tax Rate Only), Page 42 (Fire Levy Only) and Page 43 (Combined Tax Rate). Although, I will admit, it took a bit of studying to figure how the flat tax for residential and average tax for commerical was done, but not a complete mystery.
Unfortunately, given the times, there is no simple way to explain the calculations, but as I like to say when I am in meetings with people from the County, at least the City’s book shows all the “worksheets” versus that incredibly confusing County book. At least in the City, the breakouts are there and with a bit of “cyfering” (as Jethro used to say), it can be figured out.
I fully support the addition of the 3rd Station w/vehicle over on Godwin as it reflects taking a hard look at the Fire District and finding its weakness, then taking action. Let us make sure that remains even if the rate does not go lower as Mark suggests. I am quite sure the folks on that side of with homes & businesses will see the value if we emphasize it in the various news reports.
One concern I do have is support for the PRTC. Serving my City on the Commision on Aging and the MC & MP Disability Services Board, transportation is much discussed lately given the transition within Aging from providing bus services to a proposed voucher system. The vote for the PRTC subsidy was a little too close for my comfort last year and I am a strong advocate PRTC be supported – not only for the older & disabled population, but our City population in general.
On final note, kudos to the Council for the excellent items submitted to Gov. Kaine’s stimulus website!
March 14, 2009 at 2:47 pm
“Citing specific problems of policy and practice as well as engineering,
Mayor Davis indicated that because of the failure of the average
citizen to weigh all the responsibilities of the Council in relation
to some personal greviance. the lot of a town official is sometimes not
a happy one.”
Manassas Journal (12-1-1949)
Manassas Mayor Harry Davis (Mayor for 40 years)