Alexandria Council To Vote On Property Tax, Fee Hikes

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The Alexandria City Council will vote Thursday on a 5.7 cent property tax hike and other fee increases.

The increase would make the tax rate $1.13 per $100 of assessed value, the same as neighboring Fairfax County, which opted not to increase the tax rate this year. Alexandria's proposed rate is higher than those in Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun counties.

The Washington Post reported that the hike would add $356 more per year to the average household's property tax bill. The city's budget seeks to address overcrowded schools, aging buildings and a growing Metro budget, as well as updating its sewer system.

In March, Vice Mayor Justin Wilson proposed the 5.7 cent tax hike, three cents above the City Manager Mark Jinks;s proposal. It came after parents called for more capital funding to address aging school buildings.

Mayor Allison Silberberg was the only member of the council still opposed to the 5.7 cent increase. She unsuccessfully proposed a 3.6 cent increase as a compromise. "The tax rate of 5.7 cents is too much to ask our residents to shoulder," she said during the May 1 council meeting to finalize the budget.

Fee increases are likely to pass as well. The city manager's budget proposed increasing the sewer fee from $1.40 to $1.82 per 1000 gallons to begin updating its sewer system as mandated by the state. The solid waste fee would increase from $363 to $373, and the city would introduce a stormwater utility fee Jan. 1, 2018.

The council will meet to adopt the budget Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall (301 King Street). See the full proposed budget and the full process on the city's website.

Image via Visit Alexandria