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VOLUME 35 NO. 37
G R E AT FA L L S • M c L E A N • V I E N N A • O A K T O N
MAY 8, 2014
Vienna Residents, Town Council Square Off on Taxes BRIAN TROMPETER Staff Writer
The conclusion pretty much was foregone, but that did not stop some Vienna residents from speaking out April 28 against real estate tax bills that would rise under town officials’ proposed fiscal year 2015 budget. “The tax rates here are increasing unsustainably,” said David Swink, a town resident
who serves on the board of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance. “It doesn’t really matter whether you need it or not. You’re taking it. People are just going to have to walk away. The taxpayer really has no say about it.” The Vienna Town Council held a public hearing that evening to let residents weigh in on officials’ plan to maintain the town’s real estate tax rate at 22.88 cents per $100 assessed
valuation. While the rate will remain the same, many homeowners’ wallets will be lighter because residential assessments saw solid increases this year. (The same cannot be said for commercial properties, which on average recorded slight decreases in value.) Vienna residents pay the town’s real estate tax in addition to the one levied by Fairfax County.
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES DETAILS IN PARIS
Great Falls photographer Frank Barnako focused on the intricate iron detailing of the Eiffel Tower during a trip to Paris last summer. This image PHOTO BY FRANK BARNAKO is among 20 on display throughout May at Great Falls Library. For more on this story, see Page 7.
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The Board of Supervisors this year boosted the county’s tax rate by a half-penny to $1.09 per $100 assessed value. Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco said county officials determine the town’s real estate assessments and added that the Town Council does not always follow suit with the Board of Supervisors vis-à-vis increasing the tax rate. That explanation did not placate Vienna resident Arthur McKay, who estimated 17 percent of his income goes toward town and county taxes. Many people, including those on fixed incomes, scarcely can afford the higher taxes being levied by local governments, he said. “I hope you will have the courage to bring the tax rate down so we can continue to live here comfortably,” McKay said. Council member Laurie Cole said both county and town officials must contend with rising costs to provide necessary services. “Every Council I’ve served on has been painfully aware of Fairfax County’s tax rate,” said Cole, who will step down in June after 12 years on the Town Council. “It is a delicate and important balance.” Council member Edythe Kelleher noted that Virginia Retirement System payments for town employees are determined by the General Assembly and pointed out Del. David Bulova (D-37th) in the audience, who was attending the meeting on a separate issue. “You have a delegate sitting next to you,” Kelleher told the tax critics. “Give him the evil eye.” Swink responded that local governments must address escalating pension costs. “This is where we’re going bankrupt,” he said. “Homeowners don’t have a get-out-ofjail-free card. If they have to cut back, they have to cut back on something.” The Town Council voted unanimously in favor of holding Vienna’s real estate tax rate steady and will adopt the fiscal year 2015 budget May 12. The budget will take effect July 1.
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