Vienna Budget Hearings Approach, Flat Tax Rate Proposed

VIENNA, VA — The budget process is underway in the Town of Vienna with various public hearings coming up.

The town's budget accounts for four operating funds: general, water and sewer, debt service, and stormwater. Town Manager Mercury Payton's 2021-2022 proposal calls for a $43,190,460, representing all four funds. The proposal is a 5.3 percent increase over the current year's budget.

The latest budget proposal forecasts a return to normal activities at the start of the fiscal year due to the rollout of vaccinations and Virginia's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

"The 2021-22 proposed budget increases many revenue categories back to pre-pandemic levels and adds back formerly decreased expenditures for parks and recreation activities," Payton wrote in his budget proposal.

The Vienna real estate tax, which Town of Vienna residents pay on top of the Fairfax County real estate tax, is proposed to stay the same at $.0.225 per $100 of assessed value. This is the seventh straight year the real estate tax rate is proposed to remain flat.

Because of assessment value increases, the average residential tax bill would still go up. The average equalization assessment for the 2021-22 budget is $872,227, compared to $830,452 in the last budget cycle. The average residential tax bill would increase by $94 (from $1,869 to $1,963). The current year's budget was lower than the original budget proposal to account for revenue and spending decreases due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

While the real estate tax rate would remain unchanged, the water rates are proposed to increase by 1 percent and sewer rates are proposed to increase by 10 percent. In the budget proposal, Payton said there was a "review of changing consumption patterns." The average customer's sewer and water charges are proposed to increase by $11.76 a quarter, or $47.02 annually.

The first public hearings will be on the proposed budget and proposed water and sewer rates on April 12. The public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held on April 26. Adoption of the budget, tax rate, and water and sewer rates is scheduled for May 17.

For the full budget proposal and budget schedule, visit www.viennava.gov/your-government/town-budget.

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