Harrisonburg City Council set to consider budget, tax rate

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – On Tuesday evening, Harrisonburg Metropolis Council adopted its price range and actual estate tax rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The funds totals $335.8 million and features a a few-cent enhance to the real estate tax level as part of a a few-calendar year plan to support spend for the new Rocktown Substantial University.

The tax price maximize will make the tax rate $.93 per $100 of assessed residence value. Council users pointed out the tax raise goes significantly additional than shelling out for the new higher faculty.

“Taxes are heading up since much more men and women will need mental wellness expert services. Taxes are heading up for the reason that we need to make positive we acquire truly excellent care of these individuals, gentlemen and girls that are putting their life on the line for us every single day,” Councilmember Chirs Jones said. “Taxes are going up for the reason that we want to continue our fantastic h2o supply.”

Mayor Deanna Reed claimed that this selection was not taken evenly and that there necessary to be a tax level raise to clear up the overcrowding concerns that Harrisonburg Significant University has been working with for several years.

“If you own a $200,000 property, you’re paying out $1800 in taxes a 12 months. With this improve that would go up to $1860 a 12 months for a $200,000 property, so people today will see an effects on their taxes. We have noticed a sizeable residence valuation raise,” explained Mike Parks, Harrisonburg’s Director of Communications.

The median actual estate value in the metropolis amplified by 10.5% late in 2021.

“The house valuation is definitely tricky to consider into consideration with that annual tax charge simply because we hardly ever know what the long term will hold, but, right now for the regular home owner, they’re heading to see about an additional $60 on their tax invoice each individual 12 months,” explained Parks.

Parks mentioned that a single of the city’s most significant objectives was to get the spending plan again up to where by it was pre-pandemic.

“We experienced to make a selection of cuts owing to a lower in tax revenue with the pandemic so we’re striving to get again up to in which we were. The higher faculty is only a single thing. We have a quantity of other jobs we’re on the lookout to shift forward on, money advancement projects, new Public Functions developing, and a range of boosts to providers,” he reported.

Parks extra that the only tweaks created to the original price range proposal have been improvements to metropolis contributions to some non-income throughout the city.

Metropolis Council will maintain a public hearing on the real estate tax fee prior to voting on it. It will be the final likelihood for general public input on the issue.

If passed the finances and tax charge will go into outcome on July 1.

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