What about all those with houses in foreclosure? You think they can afford more tax? What about those trying to avoid foreclosure?

Anonymous wrote:No. It will be more than that. Those who are exempt because of income, don't pay. How many of those will make everyone else's go up?

The fact is that 390,900 households now are paying (not exempt).

No. It will be more than that. Those who are exempt because of income, don't pay. How many of those will make everyone else's go up?

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that the only taxpayers contributing are those who own property. Those who rent only pay through their landlord going up on rent.

Sales tax and car tax are also included. But the bottom line is that 390,900 households are contributing in some way, and the $140 million shortfall could be eliminated by each of those households paying an average of only $358.15 more.

The problem is that the only taxpayers contributing are those who own property. Those who rent only pay through their landlord going up on rent.

^Sorry, for the "typical" household the real estate tax is $4,823.48. Period, not comma!

I looked up the number of households paying property taxes in Fairfax County. For FY 2013 it is 390,900 households. Take a look at this link:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2013/adopted/overview/18_trends_demographics.pdf

For the "typical" household the real estate tax is $4,823,48. The total tax (including sales tax, personal property tax) is $5,638.76.

The total tax of $5,638.76 is $920.09 less than it was in FY 2007.

The budget shortfall being agonized over for FCPS is $140 million. Divided over the 390,900 households paying county taxes, this would come to $358.15 per household.

If households were to be taxed an extra amount of $358.15, it would still be less than half of the reduction that had happened since FY 2007, and people would still be better off in terms of Fairfax County taxes than they were in FY 2007.

Since the amounts are averages reflecting a "typical" household, some (with greater assets and spending) would pay more, and some (with fewer assets and lower spending) would pay less.

I for one would be happy to pay $358.15 to do my share in eliminating $140 million budget shortfall for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Anonymous wrote:

We can afford to pay more for our schools, and many would gladly pay more for smaller classes.

You are pretty naïve if you think that everyone can. Do you even know how much you pay in property tax for your house?

Yes, I know to the dollar. Why would anyone not know the amount of something that they need to pay twice a year (or monthly if through escrow)? Next payment due December 5.

We need more funding, not more cuts. Especially we need more capacity if we want to split an ever-growing number of students into smaller classes. Where will the extra classrooms come from if the schools are already bursting at the seams? In the short term, until capacity can be increased, it may be easiest to add assistant teachers, increasing the amount of individual attention that way.

Fight for more funding. Do not decimate our school system.

We can afford to pay more for our schools, and many would gladly pay more for smaller classes.

You are pretty naïve if you think that everyone can. Do you even know how much you pay in property tax for your house?

To pp on Garza and scarcity mentality. I guarantee you the cost of living in Lubbock is lots lower than Fairfax. Also, Texas residents pay NO state income tax. Fairfax county residents already pay higher taxes.

Meant to say income in Fsirfax County, not FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A rise in property taxes can be devastating to those retirees living on fixed income. It's not just working people who are affected.

Fairfax County provides tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_home.htm

The qualifications for real estate tax relief:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_faq.htm

The gross income from all sources of the owners of the dwelling and any relatives of the owners who reside in the dwelling may not exceed $72,000. The following income limitations and percentage of relief apply:

Gross Income Amount of Tax Relief
$52,000 or less 100%
$52,001 to $62,000 50%
$62,001 to $72,000 25%

That's not much relief--remember you still have property insurance, income tax, state income tax, food, gas, medicare tax, medical expenses, etc.

have you read the data on "retirees" lately. With their pensions and savings they are not hurting. Especially the ones who managed to retire in Fairfax! this isn't the midwest were they can't find buyers for their homes, or their homes didn't appreciate. Also look at the income/age in Fairfax County.

of course I miss the personal property tax. I liked that my car got taxed. it was a depreciating asset, vs my home which was an appreciating asset. Also, I drive a honda civic and not a BMW like my neighbors!

+1 I hope that Dr. Garza isn't operating from a scarcity mentality when she says that we will cut FCPS expenses to the bone. Median household income in Texas is only around $50K ($43K for Lubbock and $55K for Houston, the places where Dr. Garza last worked), but here in FCPS it is $102K. We can afford to pay more for our schools, and many would gladly pay more for smaller classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A rise in property taxes can be devastating to those retirees living on fixed income. It's not just working people who are affected.

Fairfax County provides tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_home.htm

The qualifications for real estate tax relief:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_faq.htm

The gross income from all sources of the owners of the dwelling and any relatives of the owners who reside in the dwelling may not exceed $72,000. The following income limitations and percentage of relief apply:

Gross Income Amount of Tax Relief
$52,000 or less 100%
$52,001 to $62,000 50%
$62,001 to $72,000 25%

That's not much relief--remember you still have property insurance, income tax, state income tax, food, gas, medicare tax, medical expenses, etc.

If 100% relief (not paying any property tax at all) isn't enough for those grossing $52,000 or less, property tax is not the problem with their budget.

have you read the data on "retirees" lately. With their pensions and savings they are not hurting. Especially the ones who managed to retire in Fairfax! this isn't the midwest were they can't find buyers for their homes, or their homes didn't appreciate. Also look at the income/age in Fairfax County.

of course I miss the personal property tax. I liked that my car got taxed. it was a depreciating asset, vs my home which was an appreciating asset. Also, I drive a honda civic and not a BMW like my neighbors!

Nothing like lumping them all into the same pot.........

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A rise in property taxes can be devastating to those retirees living on fixed income. It's not just working people who are affected.

Fairfax County provides tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_home.htm

The qualifications for real estate tax relief:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_faq.htm

The gross income from all sources of the owners of the dwelling and any relatives of the owners who reside in the dwelling may not exceed $72,000. The following income limitations and percentage of relief apply:

Gross Income Amount of Tax Relief
$52,000 or less 100%
$52,001 to $62,000 50%
$62,001 to $72,000 25%

That's not much relief--remember you still have property insurance, income tax, state income tax, food, gas, medicare tax, medical expenses, etc.

have you read the data on "retirees" lately. With their pensions and savings they are not hurting. Especially the ones who managed to retire in Fairfax! this isn't the midwest were they can't find buyers for their homes, or their homes didn't appreciate. Also look at the income/age in Fairfax County.

of course I miss the personal property tax. I liked that my car got taxed. it was a depreciating asset, vs my home which was an appreciating asset. Also, I drive a honda civic and not a BMW like my neighbors!