Prince William County supervisors on Tuesday formally approved the county’s $844 million general fund budget for fiscal 2011 that included a modest tax rate increase, as well as enough money to keep all of the county’s libraries open.
At the adopted property tax rate of $1.236, the average homeowner will see a $74, or 2.5 percent, increase on his tax bill from this year. The average commercial tax bill will decrease by about 16 percent.
The rate, up from $1.212, does not include a fire and rescue district levy, which the board set at $0.0761 per $100 valuation on all real estate.
Board Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large, pointed out that tax bills will still be lower than in 2007 for the average resident.
“This has been another tough budget, but we got through it, and I think it’s really a good mark on the county,” he said. “We have kept intact the vital functions of the government — social services, police, fire and rescue, and all the other functions of the government. So I think this is really something to be proud of.”
The board restored about $1.5 million to the budget last week, which allowed all of the county’s libraries to remain open, and restored a proposed 15 percent across-the-board cut to community nonprofit groups.
