The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 at its morning meeting Tuesday to adopt an “equalized” tax rate of 55 cents per every $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2021-2022.
The board also unanimously adopted a $190.6 million fiscal year budget, starting July 1.
County Administrator John Egertson had proposed a 57-cent tax rate to generate an estimated $1.2 million to cover annual operations at the new Culpeper Technical Education Center opening in September.
But with the pandemic only starting to ease and economic challenges still prevalent for many families, a tax increase proved unpopular among elected officials or constituents.
Cedar Mountain Supervisor Jack Frazier voted against the 55-cent tax rate to go lower, 54-cents. Since the recent reassessment on residential properties was so much higher—a 12 to 14 percent increase in value—than commercial, industrial and agricultural property, homeowners will still pay more with the equalized rate, he said.
“We can frame it however we want to frame it, but that’s why I am trying to push for this other penny so it will lower their tax rate,” Frazier said. “Most of the tax burden has gone right to the residential homeowner.”
