Supervisor Dennis Rooker had no problem getting his fellow supervisors to approve a 35 percent increase in the county’s automobile decals, raising them to $38.50 from $28.50. But at least three of them couldn’t stomach a real estate tax rate of 69 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Pressure was on at the April 11 meeting. April 13 loomed as the date by which they had to set the local real estate tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year—or else under state law the rate would fall to 0 percent and the county would run out of money by the end of June.
Because the Board had already voted to lower the rate below last year’s 74-cent rate to a maximum of 70 cents, they initially considered a rate as low as 65 cents. But support was split down the middle.
With a mere half hour to go, Rooker called for a 10 minute recess. Board members could be seen talking and huddling and when the meeting was called back to order there was a unanimous vote for 68 cents per $100 of assessed value.
“I think it’s foolish,” says David Slutzky. The Rio District rep had vowed to vote against any rate that was under 74 cents but says that he was swayed by a conversation with Rooker and supervisor Sally Thomas. “They made a persuasive argument that you’re part of a group of six and you can be a purist but you’re never going to get anything done,” he says.
“It was a compromise, almost no one had 68 cents as their first choice,” Thomas says. “So I think it shows a very responsible group of six people who united for the good of the county.”
Thomas defends the Board’s decision to increase the fee the county levies on residents’ cars: “When the General Assembly does give us an alternative, it behooves us to look at that.”
In sharp contrast, City Council, meeting in a back conference room, spent five minutes voting on a final budget and tax rate of 95 cents. “Ya’ll think they’re going to be some fireworks or something?” joked City Manager Gary O’Connell to the media crews gathered in the back of the room. Kevin Lynch was the only councilor to object—he had hoped for a rate a few cents lower.—with additional reporting by Will Goldsmith
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