Taxpayers Can Comment on Proposed Budget Beginning Today

Fairfax County taxpayers can begin commenting on an essentially no-frills —which includes higher bills for homeowners—that the Fairfax County Executive presented to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Today, taxpayers can chat online with the county executive about his proposed budget at 2pm. Submit questions now.

The budget proposed by County Executive Anthony Griffin restores no cuts in services made in the past several years. It includes a two percent pay raise for county employes beginning July 1, an increase in police overtime, and half the amount requested by county schools.

Here's how the proposed budget affects your wallet:

• The property tax rates remains at $1.07 per $100 of assessed value but the average homeowner will pay nearly $34 more in property taxes. That's because the mean value of county homes has  increased slightly from $445,533 to $448, 696.
• Storm water fees are proposed to increase one cents to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value. That means an average $45 increase for homeowners.

The proposed budget does not contain a meals tax, which is a tax on meals eaten in restaurants. Such a tax is in addition to an existing sales tax.

The imposition of a new tax on meals needs voter approval through a referendum. Voters rejected the idea a few years ago after a large lobbying effort by restaurant owners. Both Arlington and Vienna have such a tax.

The County Executive had a large audience for the unveiling of his proposed budget. Many of his department heads, including Fairfax police chief David M. Rohrer and Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin, were interested to see their new spending numbers.

Griffin and the county budget office treat the proposed budget like a state secret. Not even the supervisors knew the budget proposals.

Here are the 5 things you should know about the proposal:

1.School funds. When the school superintendent in January, the county executive and many supervisors made clear . The proposed county budget recommends $1.68 billion, an increase of 4.5 percent over the current amount. In addition the county gives the schools $69 million to pay for Head Start, police officers assigned to high schools, school crossing guards and after school programs.

Griffin said giving the schools their full request would raise the property tax by 3 cents. Half of the county's  proposed $3.5 billion general fund budget, goes to pay for the county's schools.

2. Where does the money come from? Nearly 61 percent from real estate taxes; 16 percent from personal property taxes; 15 percent from local taxes like the sales tax. Federal and state money contributes less than 4 percent to the county's budget.

3. Where is the money spent? The schools, of course. The next largest share, 12. 2 percent, goes to public safety—the police, fire department and county sheriff. Another 11 percent goes to health and welfare.

Griffin has proposed giving the police department $2 million in overtime pay. “We were getting too tight on the overtime,” he said.

4. Libraries and Parks. Several supervisors voiced concerns about additional reductions in the library and parks budgets. Mason District Supervisor Penelope Gross said, “we have cut to the bone” on libraries.

5. Where to find the budget. For more information on the FY 2013 Advertised Budget Plan, contact the Department of Management and Budget at 703-324-2391, TTY 711, or access the budget online. The entire budget is also available on CD-ROM upon request.  

The board of supervisors will approve a final budget in late April.