[11 April 2020 mass email by Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth, PWCBG]

 

All:  As you know, Prince William County and much of the country is in a far-reaching economic lockdown of still indefinite duration.  If  small- and medium-sized businesses and the most at-risk households in our county are to economically survive, the county government should be freezing spending, cutting taxes, or even declaring tax holidays until the economic crisis passes — not raising taxes.

What are they thinking? — Now, enter the 5 supervisors who make up the Prince William County Democratic majority:  Chair Wheeler, Vice Chair Angry, Potomac Supervisor Bailey, Woodbridge Supervisor Franklin, and Occoquan Supervisor Boddye.  They seem to feel that the public exists to serve the government and feed its insatiable appetite for your money.   (See, for example:  https://pwcbg.org/2020/04/bocs-majoritys-incompetence-vindictiveness-false-pride-devlined-west-county-tax-increases-despite-growing-business-jobs-meltdown/ and  https://thederecho.blogspot.com/2020/04/wheeler-and-martino-are-whistling-past.html  and  https://pwcbg.org/2020/03/second-chance-for-5-new-bocs-members-deceived-by-developers-on-devlin2-pwcbg-suggests-tax-relief-for-local-employers-employees-facing-layoffs/ )  Thus the BOCS Dem majority has proposed not a tax freeze, or better yet a tax holiday, but instead a 4% tax increase on thousands of homeowners and businesses that are wondering how they’re going to avoid bankruptcy.  Imagine that, while surrounding counties and states are freezing or cutting taxes. (Republicans Brentsville Supervisor Lawson, Gainesville Supervisor Candland, and Coles Supervisor Vega oppose a tax increase.)

Nothing is more evident to us after 15 years of fighting county land use battles than this:  The only thing unethical members of the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) fear is public outcry, public shaming, and eventual removal from office.  Make sure the tone deaf BOCS majority hears you loud and clear.

What you can do — Note our colleague Kay Herrera and Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson’s messages below about what you can do about this 11 thru 16 April, including Vice Chair Angry’s invitation to a 1 pm 11 April (today) Facebook live event on the budget.  In sum, per Supervisor Lawson, the county’s budget hearings next week are April 14 and April 16; both hearings begin at 7:30 pm. You can participate in the County budget hearings virtually through the online link. Especially note the real estate tax, which comprises the lion’s share of local tax revenues; this public hearing has a separate sign up for 8:00 pm.  Those who would like to participate virtually or via phone during any of the public hearings must sign up at:  http://www.pwcgov.org/speakup.  You will then receive an email with instructions on how to log in to participate during the meeting.  People must sign up by the cutoff date indicated for each meeting to ensure they receive instructions in a timely manner.  There are also many other ways citizens can participate in the budget process. To ask your questions online and submit a comment, visit:  https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/budgetquestions.aspx    Provide your feedback on the budget at https://pwcgov.granicusideas.com/meetings/2407-board-of-county-supervisors-meeting/agenda_items (See this item posted at:  https://pwcbg.org/2020/04/what-you-can-do-11-thru-14-apr-re-bocs-dem-majoritys-callousness-in-proposing-tax-increases-amid-employer-jobs-meltdown/ )

Consequences — It’s your county, our county, and we’ll all have to live with the consequences if the 5-Dem majority further weakens or hollows out the already-very-small and fragile commercial part of the county tax base (traditionally only ~15%, with the other ~85% paid by homeowners) and further undermines financially-stressed homeowners. And if a large number of businesses and homeowners fail or leave, then how will the BOCS majority fund their ever-increasing government programs from an ever-shrinking tax base?



Ralph & Kathy Stephenson
Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth

Only in the bright light of public scrutiny can the common good be secured,
while in darkness and obscurity the interests of the powerful and affluent prevail.


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——– Forwarded Message ——–

Subject: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: SAY NO TO TAX INCREASES!! APRIL 14TH YOU MUST CALL OR WRITE
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2020 01:28:39 +0000 (UTC)
From: kvherrera@aol.com
To: kvherrera@aol.com

Folks, this is nuts, BOCS will be voting on TAX INCREASES on April 14th.  Other local jurisdictions are reducing, eliminating increases altogether, and cutting costs.  Why is our BOCS leadership so out of touch with reality that they can fathom putting this type of item on the agenda at this time???!!


Please write your supervisor and if you live in the Neabsco District (Victor Angry’s) then see below for a livestream where you can comment  TOMORROW SATURDAY APRIL 11 AT 1PM.  LET SUPERVISORS KNOW:  NO TAX HIKES!

You can also :sign up to call the Board, to speak live by phone during their April 14 public hearing, to tell them you won’t pay more in taxes during this crisis. https://pwcgov.granicusideas.com/


Voting on anything considered non-essential and basically if not related to Covid 19, should be handled when taxpayers can fully participate in this conversation. NOT NOW!


Here is the link to April 14th BOCS agenda ….all about tax increases while we are trying to find toilet paper….give me a break.
https://eservice.pwcgov.org/documents/bocs/agendas/currentagenda.pdf

Thank you and please stay healthy and safe!
Kay Herrera Occoquan District

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—–Original Message—–
From: Neabsco <neabscodist@pwcgov.org>
To: kvherrera <kvherrera@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 9, 2020 5:11 pm
Subject: Neabsco News – FY Budget Facebook Live Saturday April 11th 1pm

Neabsco News – Facebook Live Event FY2021 Budget Priorities and Budget Survey Discussion

Supervisor Angry will be facilitating a Facebook Live on Saturday, April 11 at 1:00pm.  He will be discussing FY2021 Budget priorities and would like input from constituents.  Please go to our Facebook page, Neabsco News, to participate in the discussion.
Click To View Saturday April 11th @ 1pm
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———- Original Message ———-
From: Jeanine Lawson <jlawson@pwcgov.org>
To: [name withheld]Date: April 10, 2020 at 4:00 PM
Subject: ALERT! Proposed Tax Rate Increase in Budget

Budget Season Announcement for Fiscal Year 2021

Dear Brentsville Residents:

Like clockwork, budget season has arrived. Unfortunately, I need to alert you that our proposed budget and tax rates have tax increases that would put a heavy burdenrden on homeowners and businesses. While unemployment claims skyrocket, now is NOT the time to raise taxes. Even our surrounding jurisdictions led by both political parties are cancelling their proposed tax hikes. This is why I joined Supervisors Pete Candland (Gainesville) and Yesli Vega (Coles) in requesting that the County Executive develop a Fiscal Year 2021 county budget that keeps our tax bills flat. We also requested the County Executive reallocate monies within the budget to increase funding to our Social Services Department that will help bolster programs directed at providing food, supplies, shelter, etc. to the most vulnerable groups within our community. Budgets are about setting priorities and I believe this can be accomplished while maintaining flat tax bills.

To view the advertised tax rates, please click here. Please note that the changes to tax rates begin on page 2 with the proposal to increase real estate property tax from $1.125 to $1.17 per $100 of assessed value. Let me show you what that means:

— For residents with a Nokesville zip code 20181, the average tax bill will increase by $531.13.

— For residents with a Bristow zip code 20136, the average tax bill will increase by $384.96

— For residents with a Gainesville zip code 20155, the average tax bill will increase by $455.90

— For residents with a Manassas zip code 20109, the average tax bill will increase by $283.51

— Remember, these are only averages. Many could see their tax bills increase even higher.

Your input is crucial. Next week the Board will hold two public hearings exactly for the purpose of seeking public input. Your voice can help make a difference! Because of COVID- 19, the Board directed county staff to implement options for virtual citizen participation or by phone. Below is information including links on how you can participate. 

Our budget hearings next week are Tuesday, April 14th and Thursday, April 16th both hearings begin 7:30pm. You can participate in the County budget meetings and hearings virtually through the online link. I want to especially draw your attention to the real estate rate which is the lion’s share of local tax revenues. This public hearing has a separate sign up for 8:00pm.

Those who would like to participate virtually or over phone during any of the public hearings must sign up at http://www.pwcgov.org/speakup. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to log in to participate during the meeting. People must sign up by the cutoff date indicated for each meeting to ensure that they receive instructions in a timely manner.

There are also many other ways citizens can participate in the budget process. You can view additional links below:

To ask your questions online and submit a comment, visit https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/budgetquestions.aspx

Provide your feedback on the budget at https://pwcgov.granicusideas.com/meetings/2407-board-of-county-supervisors-meeting/agenda_items

To review the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, visit https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Documents/Proposed_FY2021_Budget.pdf

Additionally, I wanted to provide you some information on COVID-19. To receive updates about the county’s response to COVID-19, visit pwcgov.org/COVID19, or sign up to receive text alerts by texting COVIDPWC for English or COVIDPWCES for Spanish to 888777.

I look forward to seeing, or hearing from you, as we move through the budget cycle. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office.  

Regards, Jeanine

Jeanine Lawson
PWC Government
9440 Innovation Drive
Manassas, Virginia 20110