Arlington County residents are facing tax increases and cuts to senior services as county officials debate the coming year’s budget.
The County Board has voted unanimously to consider a roughly 10 percent increase in the property tax rate for Arlington residents, which would translate to about $382 more in property taxes for the average homeowner.
The tax rate that officials are considering — 96.5 cents for every $100 of a property’s assessed value — is almost one-third higher than the increase the county manager proposed to fill an estimated $65 million budget shortfall.
“We’re trying to give ourselves some room to deal with those uncertainties that were not built into the manager’s proposed budget,” said Board Chairman Jay Fisette.
He cited anticipated reductions in state aid and giving Metro potentially more funding as two significant “uncertainties” that could squeeze Arlington taxpayers.
County officials also are deciding whether to reduce the number of local senior centers.
“The neighborhood’s going to have to get a little bit bigger,” said Susan Kalish, a spokeswoman for the county, explaining that some senior citizens probably will have to travel farther to attend their local senior center programs.
“The specifics on what will happen next will be worked out with the community,” Kalish said, “but the discussions have started.”
Under the proposed budget, the county would eliminate or relocate services at the existing Lee Senior and Aurora Hill centers, where officials estimate roughly 200 seniors attend programs.
“Until the legislature goes through its process we won’t know where the hits will take place,” said Richard Stephenson, budget director for Arlington’s office of management and budget.
Stephenson said property taxes for the average Arlington resident have remained fairly steady over the past decade, with slight ups and downs in the tax rate and assessment level.
But thanks to falling property values and struggling local agencies, Arlington officials likely will have to raise taxes in the coming year.
“This is the hardest budget season we’ve had in a long time,” Fisette said.
The County Board plans to approve a final budget in April.
