Fairfax County on Tuesday unveiled a $6.7 billion budget proposal for 2013 under which the average homeowner would have to pay an extra $79 a year in real estate taxes and increased stormwater management fees.
The proposed budget represents a 6.1 percent spending increase over this year’s budget, but also includes $10.6 million in agency cuts to help balance it, County Executive Tony Griffin said.
The county proposes cutting 36 jobs to save money even while it’s adding 34 new positions elsewhere in the county, including 22 new employees to deal with stormwater issues. For the fourth straight year, the county is not funding employees’ annual salary increase though officials are recommending a 2.2 percent across-the-board increase for all county workers.
Fairfax County Public Schools are getting $70 million less in operating funds than administrators requested in the new budget, though county funding for schools will still increase by 4.5 percent over this year’s levels.
County officials said the school board’s original request for an 8.4 percent funding increase would have required a 3-cent increase in real estate taxes.
Griffin proposed a $3.6 million funding increase for mass transit — to $36.5 million — and $11.3 million to support Metro operations and construction.
To cope with a $3 billion shortfall in transportation funding over the next 10 years, Fairfax officials are considering imposing a 4 percent meals tax. But Griffin made no mention of the meals tax in his budget presentation Tuesday.
Griffin faced criticism from some board members for his proposal to increase stormwater service fees by 1 cent, which Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said placed an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. He also was questioned over the lack of larger raises for workers.
“We really haven’t lost much ground, but it is a significant concern going forward,” he said. “In public safety, we’ll have someone who’s got three years on the force making the same amount as someone who just went to recruit school. It’s a problem we share in the region, and all my counterparts are concerned about it.”
The Fairfax County Board will meet March 6 to set the advertised tax rate for fiscal year 2013. Taxes won’t increase, but rising home values mean homeowners will automatically pay more next year.
Public hearings are scheduled between April 10 and April 12. The final budget vote is May 1.
