by James C. Sherlock
I admit my fascination with how newspapers present various issues. It is an important window into the information their readers are getting.
City manager and county executive proclamations that property tax rates are “frozen” are meant to sound like fiscal constraint. Consider this headline from The Washington Post:
“Fairfax County executive proposes budget with tax-rate freeze, less pandemic austerity”
First paragraph:
“Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill proposed a budget Tuesday that would freeze the residential property tax rate while spending more on county services — part of a push to end fiscal austerity in Northern Virginia amid signs of economic stability”
End “fiscal austerity” in Fairfax County. Seriously?
“Hill was able to present a $4.85 billion spending plan that focuses on some key areas of growth for Virginia’s most populous jurisdiction while keeping the residential property tax rate at $1.14 per $100 of assessed value.”
Where do we get such men? Everybody wins, right? Continue reading