LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE
LoudounNow
[ Vol. 4, No. 49 ]
[ loudounnow.com ]
[ October 24, 2019 ]
ON THET BALLO OUR ELECTION GUIDE STARTS ON PAGE 21
Supervisors Eye Continued Drop in Tax Rate BY NORMAN K. STYER
Whitbeck applauded the Board of Supervisors for its spending on transportation projects, which it picked up at the beginning of the previous term in response to a lack of funding from the state, which is responsible for roads. “We are one of the few counties that pulls its own weight around the country,” Whitbeck said. But he also said the county board should push down tolls, particularly on the privately-owned Dulles Greenway, criticizing Randall’s support for a bill that would have extended the Greenway’s guaranteed annual toll increases. “We’re going to negotiate, or we’re going to litigate, and I’ll take it all the way to the Virginia Supreme Court if I have
Can the next Board of Supervisors fund the county’s government and school operations on a real estate tax rate below $1? It’s getting close. Thanks to a spike in commercial property values fueled by the data center market, the county’s tax rate has dropped by more than a dime over the past four years. That hasn’t necessarily translated into significantly lower tax bills for residents, but it has helped county leaders address continued growth with relatively little pocketbook pain. During their meeting last Thursday night, supervisors directed the county staff to develop the FY 2021 budget based on the projected equalized tax rate that would keep average real estate tax bills level next year. That would reduce the tax rate from $1.045 to $1.02 per $100 of assessed value. But following what has become standard practice, County Administrator Tim Hemstreet also was directed to offer options for increased service levels funded by a rate 2 cents higher and to provide a list of reductions that would be needed to adopt a tax rate 2 cents lower. The prospect of getting a $1 tax rate sparked the possibility of even cutting the rate to two figures for the first time since 2008, when land values reached their pre-recession peak. “So do you guys want to do 99 cents just for kicks and giggles? Get below a dollar?” Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run) asked. “It would be kinda fun, right? We’re so close.” The rise in property values has allowed supervisors to largely fund the School Board’s budget requests in recent years, but, at this point in the budget season, an equalized tax rate would leave a $78.6 million
CHAMBER DEBATE >> 16
TAX DROP >> 54
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Independent Robert J. Ohneiser, Republican challenger John C. L. Whitbeck Jr., and incumbent Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) debate in front of the Loudoun Chamber Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Chairman Candidates Talk Business, Transportation at Chamber Debate BY RENSS GREENE With Election Day two weeks away, the three candidates for county chairman made some of their closing arguments in front of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning. Incumbent Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Republican challenger John C. L. Whitbeck, Jr. and independent Robert J. Ohneiser were each challenged to characterize their campaigns with one word. Randall said “better,” Ohneiser, “sincere,” and Whitbeck, “quality of life.” Randall pointed to the Board of Supervisors’ accomplishment during the past four years under her leadership. “Although I really love policy, I really do not like politics,” Randall said. “Truthfully, politics is what one talks
about. Policy is what one does, and we’ve done so much over the past four years.” Meanwhile, Whitbeck portrayed himself as a pro-business candidate promising deregulation and lower taxes, and painted Randall as untrustworthy. “When I’m done with my term as chair, we will have a reputation for being the most pro-business board in the region,” Whitbeck said. While the two major party candidates sparred and sought to contrast their plans for the county, Ohneiser continued his attack on both, asserting Randall as less experienced and educated than he is, and arguing that Whitbeck has conflicts of interest and time, since he runs a law firm in Leesburg. “You have three choices: more, least, and conflicted,” Ohneiser said.
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