Fairfax County 1-Cent Tax Increase: Penny for Your Thoughts

The average Fairfax County homeowner’s real estate tax bill will increase by more $200 when the Board of Supervisors approves the Fiscal Year 2014 budget next week, and it begs the question: How do residents feel about it?

Brigitte, a Tysons resident who only provided her first name, wasn’t particularly concerned about the increase she told Patch on Thursday outside the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library..

“It doesn’t really bother me that much,” she said.

Brigitte was, however, much more concerned with the increase in her real estate assessment due to the Silver Line, which is scheduled to open at the end of December 2012.

Brigitte said she didn’t think the cost of the Silver Line project was worth the benefit.

“As a resident here, all we get as a result is traffic and noise,” she said.

While the Board of Supervisors are likely to approve next week just a 1 cent increase in real estate property taxes — from 1.075 to 1.085 per $1,000 of assessed value — many county residents are seeing an increase in the value of their homes, making what they owe even greater.

Resident Harold Brayman was concerned about just that: He said Friday he hadn’t had a chance to look at his bill yet, but said he was wary of tax issues in the county because in the past officials had lowered the rate but increased assessments.

“I’m always skeptical whenever I hear Fairfax County say anything about taxes,” he said.

Diane, a resident who requested not to be photographed, shared similar sentiments.

“I’m not happy about it,” she said, “but I’m not surprised either.”

Brayman said he thought schools and transportation funding should be top priorities in every budget.

"I’ve got school-aged kids, so schools and what is done in augmentation to the state funding of transportation. I think those are the two key issues for any local taxes," he said.

Tell us: How much will your real estate tax bill go up in FY 2014? Do you think the hike is money well spent? Let us know in the comments.