Arlington approves new budget, tax hike

Arlington County has approved a $955.9 million budget for fiscal 2011, which includes an 8.3-cent tax hike. Residents will pay 95.8 cents for every $100 of assessed property value, for an increase of more than 9 percent from the previous year. The average property owner will pay about $346 more than in fiscal 2010. County officials said the tax increase was necessary to preserve county services and to fund local low-income housing programs and nonprofit organizations. The approved budget and tax rate are higher than those proposed earlier this year by acting County Manager Barbara Donnellan.