Multiple tax increases come with Prince William’s proposed $1.4B budget. Here they are, explained

Prince William County residents are getting a look at how much their property taxes could increase in the coming year.

The Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday will hold a public hearing on the county’s proposed $1.4 billion budget. That’s a 6.5 percent increase over the previous year’s budget.

Based on the proposed Real Estate tax rate of $1.145 per $100 of assessed value, residents should receive an average tax bill totaling $4,432. That’s about $255 more than what the average taxpayer paid last year.

At $646 million, the county proposes increasing the amount of cash it will hand over to its public school division by 6.4 percent.

County Executive Christopher Martino has proposed sweeping tax increases across the board. They come as the county is facing a $2.4 million revenue shortfall in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Two weeks ago, Martino told the Board of County Supervisors how the local government plans to make spending cuts to weather the crisis.

Sales and business and professional licensing (BPOL) taxes, vehicle licensing fees, and investment income are all projected to have plummeted in since the national shutdown.

The county will increase its fire and rescue levy about one percent over the previous year, to $58 million.

It’s also going to cost more to get a ride to a hospital in an ambulance. Those in critical condition will pay $100 more than they did this year, now $800 per trip, and those who need basic life support will also pay $100 more than they did this year, now $500.

A transportation distance charge for patients will also increase $1, to $11 per mile.

Prince William will spend about five percent more on mosquito control in the coming year, increasing the budget to $1.7 million.

Businesses will be on the hook to pay more for their computers, as the tax will increase 10 cents to $1.35 per every $100 of assessed value.

Those who live in trailers will also pay more in taxes in the coming year, with a proposed tax rate of $1.170 for every $100 of the assessed value of their homes.

Those who own boats, airplanes, farm equipment, and ridesharing vans won’t see a tax increase as the rate for these vehicles remains unchanged at $0.00001. Earlier this year, Potomac Local News’ Jillian Ellis reported about how boat owners packed the county’s government center to oppose an increase of the boat tax. Apparently, it worked.

Drivers will pay more in 2021, as it will cost $33 (up from $24 this year) to register cars, trucks, and motorhomes of any weight. The registration fee for a motorcycle will increase to $20, up from $12 this year.

There will also be less tax relief for vehicle owners, as vehicles valued between $1,001 and $20,000, and those valued over $20,000 will have their tax bills reduced by 45 percent, one percent less than this year.

For those who work in construction, fees charged to developers will be on the rise. It will cost more to get a county building inspector out to a worksite after-hours, increasing to $155 per hour, up from $137.55 per hour.

Also going up are costs to vacate a plat, have a fire lane in front of a building inspected, get a home occupancy certificate, make an appeal for a home occupancy certificate, and to win a variance from the county Board of Zoning Appeals.

Applicants will pay $80 more than they did this year, $200, to get a building certified for non-conforming use.

The fees for residents to access the landfill will remain flat in the coming year at $70 for single-family homes, $63 for townhouses, $47 for apartments, and $56 for mobile homes.

A public hearing on these increases will take place Tuesday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the McCoart Prince William County Government Center, located at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.

Two weeks ago, the Board of Supervisors suspended in-person public comments due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, we’re told the Supervisors will hear in-person remarks about the budget on Tuesday, at the starting at 8 p.m.

Supervisors will also accept comments online via the county’s Speak Up Prince William website. The website can also be used to sign up to speak in person during the meeting.

County officials said Supervisors would also accept call-in comments from residents during the meeting; however, they did not provide a phone number for residents to call.

Residents can watch the meeting live online.

For those who can’t make the meeting on Tuesday, the Board of County Supervisors will hold a second meeting, at the same location, on Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.