May Launches Re-Election Bid, Defends Budget Vote

Lake Ridge, Va. –– Occoquan Supervisor Mike May held his reelection campaign fundraiser on Sunday.

Known as “Mike-O-D-Mayo” because it’s held right before Cinco-De-Mayo, the event was the kick start to his bid to keep his seat on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

About 100 people came to the event to cheer on the unopposed incumbent who last week got high marks with conservatives when he was one of two county supervisors who voted against a higher tax rate for the county.

“I didn’t just vote no on the proposed budget. I gave it some deep thought and analysis and came to the determination that we could have funded all of the budget initiatives, including construction of two new libraries, the two-percent county employee merit raises, fully funded the schools, added new police officers and new social services positions at a lower tax rate than that which was ultimately adopted,” said May.

Prince William County’s 2012 $890 million budget passed last week and takes effect July 1. It is expected to raise the average tax bill by $78, as it will tax $1.204 per $100 of the assessed property value.

May said his budget alternative would have taxed residents only $1.186 per $100 of the assessed property value.

“We had a couple of different options: do you want to fund the county executive’s proposed budget and see if it works out, or do you raise the tax rate higher than necessary to fund additional capital projects and positions this year?  It makes more sense to wait to see how the economy plays out and then provide additional funding for projects next year if it improves. There are signs the economy is returning to normal levels but the signals are mixed, and the last thing we want to do is add new county positions only to come back next year and have to cut them because of budget shortfalls,” said May.

While residents’ tax bills will increase, officials maintain that when adjusted for inflation they will be lower than previous years.

If reelected, this would mark May’s second term on the Board. He replaced current Board Chair Corey A. Stewart who represented the Occoquan District prior to May.

May, a practicing attorney in Arlington, was elected to the Board in 2007 and, since 2010, has served as the Vice Chairman of the Board.

Prior to serving as a supervisor, May served on the county’s planning commission and Prince William County Social Services Board.