Arlington County raised taxes Saturday as the county board passed its fiscal year 2013 budget.
The 1.3 cent raise brings the real estate tax to 97.1 cents per $100 of assessed value. County officials said the average Arlington homeowner would pay 2.4 percent more in taxes for the next year — or about $156.
The higher tax rate will help pay for a budget that is 4.7 percent larger than fiscal year 2012’s.
The county board gave itself and county staff a raise — an average 2.8 percent pay raise for employees and 2.3 percent for county board members. Board members will now earn $50,127 per year, except Chairwoman Mary Hynes, who will make $55,140.
The larger budget also includes about $9.5 million for an affordable housing fund and $8.6 million for rental subsidies for older adults, people with disabilities and working families with children. About 14 percent of the county’s apartments and houses for rent are now dedicated affordable housing for lower-income people, county officials said.
The board also created a special $1.9 million fund for Arlington Public Schools to help pay for changes in the state’s retirement system that require larger contributions from local school systems.
