City property taxes

A tax rate cut is NOT necessarily a tax cut!

TAX CALCULATOR
Taxes will go up for the average homewoner, unless the tax rate is reduced from last year's $0.995 to $0.84.
How much more will you pay?
Look up your property online. Then enter your assessment values from 2004 and 2005, and pick a tax rate. Step 1: 2004 taxes • 2004 assessment: $,000 • City tax rate: 0.995 • City tax bill: $ Step 2: 2005 taxes • 2005 assessment: $,000 • City tax rate: 0.995 [current] 0.985 0.975 0.965 0.955 [City Mgr.] 0.945 0.935 0.925 0.915 [Council] 0.905 0.895 0.885 0.875 0.865 0.855 0.845 0.84 [ARCC] 0.835 0.825 • City tax bill: $ Bottom line: Tax increase • You'll pay $ more. • That's % higher than 2004.

Assessments are up again for 2005 -- averaging more than 20% for most residential properties (see Washington Post news story).

More on City finances • Press coverage of the '05 tax debate • City budget documents • Your assessment online

But the City Manager proposed reducing the City's tax rate by less than 5% (from 99.5¢ per $100 assessed value last year to 95.5¢ in 2005). City Council proposed a slightly larger rate reduction (to 91.5¢), but that still leaves most taxpayers with a tax hike exceeding 10% in just one year, on top of past increases.

We believe the City can and should do more to control spending, and provide greater relief to hard-pressed taxpayers. Many civic associations in the City have recommended that the tax rate be reduced to 84¢ - which offsets most of the latest assessment increase, while still supporting important city services and allowing a modest growth in the budget. ARCC supports that effort (see resolution).

The City Council is expected to adopt the 2005-06 budget and tax rate on Monday, May 2. Make your voice heard by contacting the Mayor and City Council.

This message paid for and authorized by the Alexandria Republican City Committee.