Dan Genz, The Examiner
2008-03-26 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

Prince William County supervisors on Tuesday broke their 21-day stalemate over the county’s budget by setting a maximum property tax rate higher than Chairman Corey Stewart had sought.

Supervisors, on a 5-3 vote, approved advertising a maximum tax rate of $1 per $100 of assessed value, a 27 percent increase over last year’s tax rate of 78.7 cents.

Because assessments fell last year, the rate would result in a $266 increase for the average owner of a $344,000 home, or an increase of 8.25 percent over last year’s bills.

The compromise is 3 cents less than the increase some supervisors said was essential to fully fund schools and county programs, and 3.2 cents more than the mark favored by Stewart and others who wanted to cut spending.

“What we have done represents the realization that we needed responsibility, we also need to take action,” said Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles, who was one of the swing votes. “We were at the point where inaction was the biggest mistake we could make.”

The county’s residential property values fell by about 15 percent last year, triggering a budget crisis at a time when the county’s leaders wanted to add to expenses with a crackdown on illegal immigrants, a new school and other expensive efforts.

The rate is lower than the rate County Executive Craig Gerhart’s proposed $924 million budget uses, meaning that supervisors must cut spending from a plan that fully funds the illegal immigration crackdown, gives teachers 6 percent pay raises and adds 100 positions to the police and fire departments combined.

Supervisors Mike May, R-Occoquan, and Nohe were the swing votes that reached an agreement after 12 prior votes had failed to reach a five-member majority.

“We certainly do need to move on,” May said. “Compromise doesn’t mean you abandon your position. It means you give a little to get a little.”

But Stewart said the rate was too high for his liking but allows the board to set a lower rate later.

“I don’t expect anybody to be happy. It’s a tough, tough budget year, and we’ve got to get through it.”