This is the largest proposed tax hike in Stafford history.

Our BOS is now under Democratic Party rule and they are proposing fiscally irresponsible tax increases placing undue burdens on property owners.

The BOS Democrats are seeking a 38% tax hike plus a new tax for a Countywide Fire Levy.  This represents the largest tax hike in Virginia History! Read their unprecedented proposal here.

What Can You Do?

Don’t know what to say?

Here are some budget points

• Even at the current rates, the county would see $5.5 million in extra tax revenue next year.
• The School Board request includes $12.2 million for “Contingency./Reserve” which reads like it’s a slush fund.
• The payscale bumps are spread over five years but spreading them out to 7 or 8 years can make a big difference to taxpayers now, when they’re under the most stress.
• The schools have included an 8% raise for “non-licensed” positions.  
• There have been $25 million in new raises for teachers and bus drivers over the past 2 years.
• Assessed home values are expected to increase another 3.1% next year, meaning property owners will see another automatic increase in real estate taxes.

Talking Points

• In this economy, with the highest inflation in 40 years, with DC going after every dollar they can, Stafford’s Board needs to be fiscally responsible.
• Under Democratic leadership, this Board has just proposed the most fiscally irresponsible tax hike in Stafford history.
• This is a 38% increase on real estate tax alone. A 36% proposed increase in personal property tax. And a new proposed Countywide Fire Levy.
• There are responsible ways for us to fund teacher raises, public safety needs, new schools, and other infrastructure without bankrupting our property owners.
• Can you afford $150 to $300 extra per month in Stafford taxes?
• This unprecedented, irresponsible tax hike proposal will force many of our long-time citizens to move.
• Even half this proposed rate would be the largest tax hike in Stafford’s history.
• The Schools Superintendent isn’t going to propose a budget that doesn’t fully fund the schools. Why would you support an extra $50 million on top of that?
• Each agency, department, and administrator has a wish list that is twice as large as their budget.
• We can’t bankrupt our citizens to fully fund every wish list at once.
• My home’s assessed value has doubled since I moved here. My taxes have doubled – even before this unprecedented proposal. Has your salary doubled recently?
• These proposed amounts are way above where they’ve ever been before.

Chairman’s Letter on the Proposed Tax Increase

“Politicians will always spend every penny of tax raised and whatever else they can get away with.”
– Milton Friedman, Winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Economics, and Economic Advisor to President Reagan

For those of you who don’t yet know, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted to advertise a real estate tax rate of $1.145 – which is an increase of 38% over the current rate of $0.85. None of our three Republicans on the Board – Crystal Vanuch, Meg Bohmke, and Darrell English – none of them voted for this absolutely irresponsible proposal. I’ve had contact with all three of them today, and they need us to show them as much support as possible to fight this.

We can support them in person – the public hearing will be held at the Board of Supervisors chamber on April 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Input may be provided electronically starting March 31, 2023, by visiting  www.staffordcountyva.gov/publichearing. The final tax rate vote is scheduled for April 18, 2023. This is our window for action!

Democrats are lining up to support this unprecedented tax increase. The real estate tax is just one part of the tax increases they have in store for us. Personal property tax increase. New countywide fire levy. Every time government grows, Democrats know it is one more opportunity for them to grow in power. And we need to fight to stop their blatant and reckless money grab.

As it says in the Republican Creed – we believe that Fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government. That begins at home. And home is Stafford County. Show up! Write to your Supervisors! Tell your neighbors, your friends, and your family!

Crystal Vanuch, Stafford County Supervisor, joined WMAL’s “O’Connor and Company” radio program on Tuesday morning 3.28.23 to discuss the massive tax increase facing Stafford residents. CLICK HERE to hear the interview and read the highlights.

DATA CENTERS

Many of you know about the problems that Loudoun County and Prince William County have had with inviting data centers into their communities. Now we have our first proposal for constructing a data center in Stafford. Our Republicans on the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission have done a tremendous amount of due diligence on data centers, but there are still some open questions. There is a Joint Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission Meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29 at 6pm (not open to public comment, but open to the public to attend) where they will discuss these open questions and try to determine what requirements must be put in place before Stafford County even considers opening up to data centers in our community. More information is available here: https://staffordcova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1707/overview

POTOMAC LOCAL COVERAGE

Potomac Local News has a video available here regarding the tax increase proposal and how one of the other Supervisors is responding to coverage of her vote. (Start at 2:05 into the video for background on the tax rate and 3:30 for the Supervisor response) “Here’s our response to an elected leader using her position to discredit our local news organization. Stafford County, Virginia Supervisor Monica Gary claimed we ‘twist facts’ when reporting on a proposed 40% property tax increase she favored. She declined to say what in our story needs to be corrected.“

My wife and I moved to Stafford 14 years ago. We moved here to get away from Fairfax and have a family. We loved what we saw here and embraced Stafford. In all that time, Republicans controlled the Board of Supervisors – until January of this year. Democrats haven’t even been in charge for 3 months, and they have proposed the largest tax hike in Stafford history. This may be the largest tax rate increase in Virginia history. More than 250 years ago, the Townsend Acts created unfair taxation of the then English colonies, including a three-cent tea tax. The total proposed 2023 Stafford tax increase is more than ten times that amount. And the Democrats think you won’t notice the increase, or that it will make you happy and will give you hope. It is one thing to be thousands of miles away and not see the impacts on those you impose misguided and ill-advised taxes on. It is an entirely different thing altogether to be living among them and still not see the harm your proposal does.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman