Projected Tax Increase Lowered in Prince William County Budget Talks

The projected tax rate increase for residential property owners was lowered Tuesday by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, and may see sharper cuts before the budget reaches final approval this spring.

In preparing for budget negotiations, Prince William County staff developed a budget that assumed an average tax bill increase of 4 percent for residential property owners.

Tasked Tuesday with determining the maximum increase that residents may expect on their tax bills, the board of supervisors voted 5-3 on an increase of slightly more than 3.5 percent.

Are you willing to pay more on your tax bill for county services? Why? Tell us in the comments section below.

As the advertised rate, that can be reduced over the next two months as the budget heads toward final approval, but it cannot increase.

Prince William County Schools issued a note on its website Wednesday noting the impact the lower rate will have on the school budget. Read more about the school district's response.

Inside Nova provides details on several attempts that the supervisors made in their attempt to find an agreeable rate until Michael May (R-Occoquan) found enough support: 

May proposed advertising an average tax rate of $1.196 per $100 of assessed value, which he said is a 3.53 average tax bill increase. That motion passed with a 5-3 vote, with Supervisors Nohe, Jenkins, Caddigan and May voting yes and Candland, Covington and Stewart voting no.

Read more on the budget debate at Inside Nova. 

Citizens interested in discussing the advertised tax rate can attend a meeting at the McCoart Building on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. 

Correction: This post was update Feb. 22 to note the school district response to the reduced tax rate noted impacts to its proposed budget, but was not "critical" of the BOS decision.