Loudoun County Raises Property Taxes, Lowers School Funding

April 7, 2010

Loudoun County officials approved a $1.4 billion annual budget Tuesday that includes a property tax increase and a 2.5 percent cut in school system funding.

The county Board of Supervisors adopted a tax rate of $1.30 per $100 of assessed value, a 4.4 percent increase over this year’s rate. Ben Mays, deputy chief financial officer for the county, said the average tax bill for homeowners should go up only about 2.5 percent because of declining property values. The average commercial tax bill could fall by that amount because property values in that category have dropped even more, he said.

Earlier in the year, the county had proposed a tax rate of $1.40 per $100 of assessed value but scaled back after an outpouring of e-mails from taxpayers who cited economic distress brought on by the recession. Under the approved fiscal 2011 budget plan, the county will cut about 75 full-time positions, 50 of which are currently unfilled, Mays said.

The county’s public schools, which take up 70 percent of the county budget, will absorb almost $20 million in cuts under the plan. In budget discussions, supervisors targeted millions in unspent school system funds and $5.5 million set aside for school employee raises. The moves opened up a deep rift with parents, administrators and teachers.

Scott K. York, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, called the back-and-forth "emotional" and said both sides needed to "cool it."

"People are not getting raises from their employers, not getting [cost-of-living adjustments] and in some cases are being laid off," York said.

"It is a very difficult situation. I’m not going to apologize for my vote. I understand how you feel," York added, in comments that appeared to be directed at school defenders.

The school system had requested a budget increase of $25 million. School officials said they need the money to cope with 3,500 new students in the fall.

Priscilla B. Godfrey, the School Board vice chairwoman, said members of the board will decide on specific school cuts at a meeting Tuesday.

"It’s going to be a delicate balancing act," Godfrey said. "It could go real quickly, or it could take all night."

Without the increases, school administrators have outli ned a long list of possible cuts, including the elimination of as many as 300 jobs. Among other targeted items are elementary school foreign language programs, buses for after-school activities and field trips, and assistant athletic directors and trainers.