MANASSAS PARK, Va. – The Manassas Park Governing Body has signaled support for a balanced approach to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget that includes modest property tax relief and gradual increases in utility rates aimed at long-term sustainability.

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HAYMARKET, Va. – The Haymarket Town Council voted Monday night to adopt the town’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget and set the new real estate tax rate, concluding weeks of deliberation that included resident impact assessments and internal reviews of capital priorities.

The council unanimously approved three key resolutions during its June 2 meeting:

• Resolution 2025-006 amended the current fiscal year’s budget to reflect interest reallocation that will fund upcoming council and administrative expenses. This ensures year-end revenues are directed toward planned municipal operations and projects.

• Resolution 2025-003 established the town’s real estate tax rate at $0.098 per $100 of assessed value, a decrease from last year’s $0.105. Despite the lower rate, many residents will see slight increases in their tax bills due to rising home assessments by Prince William County. The rate was advertised and reviewed in public meetings, as required by state law.

• Resolution 2025-007 approved the FY2026 operating and capital improvement budget, which funds all town services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Budget priorities include public safety, staff operations, planning, and capital projects like Town Hall site upgrades and infrastructure improvements. The resolution also affirmed the adoption process complied with Virginia Code.

Before the vote, council members examined how the tax rate would affect different neighborhoods. Some homeowners will see minor reductions, but those with recently renovated homes or higher market valuations may face increases averaging $5 to $8.

The council also addressed future service costs, especially for trash collection, which is expected to rise due to contractual hikes and the return of county tipping fees. The adopted budget anticipates these pressures while continuing investment in infrastructure and community amenities.

💰 The City of Manassas Park just dropped its proposed budget for FY2026, and let’s just say… your water, sewer, and stormwater fees are going up, but there’s a tiny silver lining when it comes to your real estate taxes.

Here’s the scoop in plain language👇

🏠 Real Estate Tax: A Penny Saved…

Good news first: your real estate tax rate is going down… barely.

• Current: $1.405 per $100 of assessed value

• FY26: $1.395 per $100

Don’t go spending that windfall just yet—it’s about $10 less per $100,000 of property value. But hey, we’ll take it!

🚗 Personal Property Tax: No Change

• Still $3.50 per $100 of assessed vehicle value.

Cars continue to hit your wallet the same way they did last year.

💦 Water & Sewer Rates: A Steady Climb

Residential Rates (per 1,000 gallons):

• Water: $4.07 → $4.68

• Sewer: $6.77 → $7.79

📈 That’s a 15%+ increase—so if your family’s running the laundry and sprinklers nonstop this summer, expect a noticeable bump.

Commercial Water/Sewer: Tiered Increases

Depending on usage, you’ll pay more across the board:

• Example (0–10,000 gallons):

  • Water: $6.14 → $7.06

  • Sewer: $8.88 → $10.21

ERU fees (based on meter size) also jump—larger businesses will feel this more.

💧 Stormwater Fee: Raining on Your Budget

• Annual Stormwater Management Fee:

  • $182.88 → $210.31 per ERU

  • That’s about a 15% increase

This fee helps the city manage runoff, drainage, and environmental protection. Necessary, but not exactly thrilling.

🗑️ Trash & Recycling: Slight Hike

• Curbside pickup: $24.86 → $27.35

• Dumpster service: $20.29 → $22.32

That’s roughly $2 more a month to take out the trash.

👵 Senior Tax Relief: More Savings

Seniors get a bit of relief:

• Discount: $6.77 → $7.44

A small gesture, but every dollar counts.

🧾 Final Word: What’s the Budget Outlook?

• City budget is shrinking this year:

  • FY25: $142M → FY26: $97.5M (↓31.5%)

• Schools get a slight boost:

  • Up about $2.3M to $64.8M

• Total budget drops by $45M overall—down 21.7%Agenda June 3 2025-2-4…

📣 Public Hearing: June 3, 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, your monthly bills in Manassas will look a little different—mostly upward. The city is planning to raise utility rates and emergency service fees to support its budget for the next fiscal year.

Let’s break it down so you don’t have to squint at a spreadsheet 🧾:

🔌 Electric Bills Are Getting a Jolt

• Residential customers will see:
  • Monthly base charge: up from $15.18 to $16.17
  • Energy charge per kWh: $0.0924 to $0.0984

It’s a 6.5% increase across the board, whether you’re running a household or a business.

🚰 Water Costs Are Flowing Higher

Your residential water bill is going up by 8.5%:

• Monthly charge: $10.94 → $11.87
• First 5,000 gallons: $3.50 → $3.80 per 1,000 gallons
• Over 12,000 gallons in summer: $3.87 → $4.20

Even if you aren’t watering the lawn, expect to feel this.

🚽 Sewer Rates Are Creeping Up, Too

Only by 3%, but still noticeable:

• Monthly sewer charge: $9.87 → $10.17
• Most flow charges up about 10–15 cents per 1,000 gallons

For families, this adds up over time.

🚑 Calling an Ambulance? Expect a Bigger Bill

Manassas is raising EMS transport fees significantly:

• Basic Life Support: $500 → $800
• Advanced Life Support Level 2: $800 → $1,200
• Mileage: $13 → $15 per mile

Even in emergencies, it pays to know the cost.

🏠 What About Property Taxes?

Your property tax rate isn’t going up—but the city expects to collect nearly $6.6 million more. Translation? Assessments likely went up. So your bill might, too.

✨ What Else Is Going Up?

The city is also raising fees for:

• Fire permits
• Recreation programs
• Airport hangars and rentals

🏗️ Why All the Increases?

It’s all part of a $513 million budget that includes:

• More funding for public schools (+$32M)
• Boosts to water and sewer infrastructure
• Investment in city vehicles, tech, and maintenance

The city also plans to rely less on savings to pay its bills next year.

📆 Want to weigh in? The public hearing is Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

💬 Let me know in the comments: How do you feel about the new rates? Is this investment worth the cost?

 

MANASSAS, Va. – Manassas leaders agreed Monday night to keep the city’s tax rate steady for the upcoming fiscal year, despite calls from some on the City Council to lower it and give homeowners a break.

While the tax rate isn’t changing, rising property values mean most homeowners will still see bigger tax bills when they arrive later this year.

The council voted 5-1 to hold the real estate tax rate at $1.26 per $100 of assessed value, the same rate residents paid last year. That rate, combined with increased property assessments across the city, is expected to raise the average annual tax bill by about $406, according to city budget documents.

Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis cast the lone “no” vote, pushing for at least a 7-cent rate cut to keep bills flat. Councilwomen Sonia Vasquez Luna and Ashley Hutson also voiced interest in a smaller cut but ultimately voted to keep the rate unchanged.

“I just want to make sure that you feel heard,” Vasquez Luna told residents during the meeting. “We all want to reduce the financial burden on families. But high-quality services come at a cost.”

Council members supporting the flat rate pointed to growing costs for schools, police, fire services, and city workers. The adopted budget includes:

• $1.5 million more for Manassas City Public Schools to help cover teacher and staff pay raises.

• Funding for five new public safety positions, including three firefighters.

• 3% pay raises for city employees.

Vice Mayor Mark D. Wolfe defended the decision, noting that Manassas still has lower average tax bills and utility rates than most of Northern Virginia, even with the increase.

“You can’t have a great community with shrinking resources,” Wolfe said. “This budget invests in public safety, education, infrastructure, and quality of life.”

The council also unanimously approved keeping the personal property tax rate at $3.60 per $100, applying the same rate to data center computer equipment for the first time. Council members noted that this move brings Manassas in line with Prince William County’s rates but keeps small business equipment taxed at a lower $2.15 per $100.

Several residents urged the council to cut more, pointing to the strain of inflation and rising living costs. Others raised concerns about the city’s long-term reliance on new development and data centers to balance its budget.

The city will hold a public hearing on the full budget June 2, with a final vote scheduled for June 9.

Prince William County's personal property and second-half real estate taxes for 2024 are due by December 5, 2024, with various payment options available, including online, phone, mail, and in-person at designated locations. Late payments will incur a 10% penalty and monthly interest, and residents with questions or missing tax bills are advised to contact the Taxpayer Services Office.

Press Release from Prince William County:

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Personal Property Tax bills are due on 11/6. If you wish to pay your bill online, by check, you may need a new account number. Please call/email our Customer Service team at 703-361-9306 or [email protected]. Provide your name, address, and old account number. pic.twitter.com/YlduZMp0Jc

— City of Manassas Park (@ManassasParkGov) October 22, 2024

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously voted to extend the payment deadline for personal property taxes from October 7 to December 5, 2024. This new deadline aligns with the due date for real estate taxes. However, as previously scheduled, the Business Tangible Personal Property Tax will remain due on October 7, 2024.

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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is considering proposed ordinance options that would add equity to the current business and Professional Occupations Licensing tax (BPOL) by charging a licensing fee to all businesses in the county.

Currently, only businesses with gross receipts over $500,000 pay a BPOL tax, a tax enacted to fund the second war between the U.S. and the British in 1812. The threshold has been in place since 2022 after the Prince William Chamber of Commerce pushed county supervisors in 2015 to increase the taxation threshold from $250,000.

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Stafford County Government: "Stafford County Board of Supervisors adopted a second Emergency Ordinance, EO23-02, on December 12, 2023, to extend zero penalties and interest through January 5, 2024. This effort was due to the financial uncertainty concerning the delayed adoption of the federal budget and the effects this may have on the residents of Stafford County. This decision will allow taxpayers more time to pay their Personal Property tax bills."

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