Barnie:
Here is some more work for your educational program.
The following are quotes from “Leesburg Budget Plan Holds Tax Rate Level” Lila de Tantillo the The Loudoun Extra of The Washington Post 24 March 2004, Page 1.
“Leesburg Town Manager John A. Wells proposed a $109 million budget Tuesday that would keep the property tax rate at 22 cents per $100 of assessed value. But rising assessments mean that homeowners will still face significantly higher tax bills.
“Property assessments rose an average 24 percent, from $353,000 to $437,000, raising the average tax bill by about $185, to $963, according to town budget officer Michael Freda.
“Loudoun County Administrator Kirby M. Bowers has proposed a $969 million operating budget that calls for cutting the property tax rate by 3.75 cents, to $1.07 per $100 of assessed value. But the 20 percent rise in home values countywide this year means Loudoun homeowners would still see their property tax bills increase by an average of $580.”
You can see why citizens are confused and why politicians like Kilgore and Kaine try to take advantage of it.
Perhaps we need an amendment to Sec 58. 1-3321 that states that it is state policy that if assessment raise the tax bill by more than 1%, municipal governments must lower the tax rate and then cannot raise it back up for 60 days following notice…
Otherwise municipal governments will continue to let the media cover thier avoidance of stated policy so they can ride up on higher assesments. As I noted in an earlier psot, just holding another hearing does not cut it. Your thoughts?
EMR
