Manassas City leaders endorse new tax hikes over 3 years to fund school operations

MANASSAS — Manassas residents face another tax hike to fund city schools.

A new funding agreement approved by the city’s joint finance committee will head to the city council and could increase the property tax rate by more than 10 cents over the next three years. It would come on top of tax increases levied in recent by city leaders for new capital projects like a new public safety center on Grant Avenue.

Both city council and school board members make up the committee which passed the agreement in a 4-2 vote. It won the approval of each school board member on the panel. However, Councilmen Marc Aveni and Ken Elston voted against.

Under the plan, the property tax rate paid by city residents would increase 3.5 cents each year for the next three years.

That would generate an additional $1.7 million annually for the city school division to maintain its operations if Real Estate assessments continue to increase by at least twe percent a year. Last, assessed property values declined, and so did revenues from other funding sources like the cigarette tax.

Funding for the school division continues to be the largest budget-driving factor. That new planned money only funds operational costs for the school division.

It doesn’t address the nearly $60 million cost to rebuild Jennie Dean Elementary School, something the school board says it desperately needs. To get that cash, elected officials warn property taxes could go even higher.

If the school board doesn’t get the money for a school rebuild, members warn trailer classrooms would be coming to keep up with the increasing student population. It’s also possible the city could combine projects, coupling the elementary school rebuild and a new public library that, right now, is envisioned to be built downtown.

The school division is also looking at taking over the old police station on Fairview Avenue when after the new public safety center opens. The division plans to spend $6 million to renovate the building, nearly the cost of a new facility its size.

“Working out this budget is a big deal. Hiring the right teachers is a big deal. I don’t want our taxes to go up but I know we have to fund our city’s schools,” said Tim Demeria, who sits on the school board.

The new money would, in part, be used for hiring and retaining teachers. Surrounding jurisdictions can offer better pay and benefits to teachers, so the city is “trying to keep up with the Jones’,” he said.

It’s unclear when the council would take up the new incremental tax increase plan. If approved, it comes on the heels of a plan that expired this year, which hiked taxed by 2.65 percent each year for the past three years.

Aveni said it’s unclear if the measure would be approved, and warns “there is more work to do.”

The committee is scheduled to meet again at the end of July.

It’s also an election year with the potential for some city council with seat held by Elston, Aveni, and Sheryl Bass all up for grabs. If the current council approves the tax hike, the newly seated council in January isn’t required to keep the agreement.