Pr. William supervisors adopt tax rate to advertise

Prince William County residents may see a small tax hike next year as county officials look for money to fund transportation and other capital projects.

On Tuesday, supervisors unanimously voted to advertise a tax rate of $1.213 per $100 of assessed value. If approved in April, residential tax bills will go up, on average, 3 percent, county officials said. Taxpayers will also pay an additional 7.5-cent fire levy, an average of about $197, to help fund a proposed fire station.

The rate will help support a proposed $878.3 million fiscal 2012 budget, and allow Prince William officials to fund all remaining 2006 bond referendum road projects and two new libraries, County Executive Melissa S. Peacor said.

While the increase will cause bills to jump from last year, the average residential bill will still be lower than it was in fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2009. At about $3,200, the bill will also be lower than what residents in neighboring jurisdictions are projected to face, county officials said, noting that Loudoun County's average residential tax bill is expected to be about $5,200, and in Alexandria, residents are projected to pay about $4,400.

The proposed fiscal 2012 budget is 4 percent higher than in fiscal 2011, and all the money associated with the tax hike will go to the new libraries and about a dozen road projects, including expanding portions of Prince William Parkway, Minnieville Road, Route 1 and Rollins Ford Road.

County officials will host two public hearings on the proposed tax rate and budget April 4 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the board chambers. The final budget will be adopted April 26.