Find Out How the County Plans to Spend Your Tax Dollars

Would you like to tell Dranesville Supervisor John Foust and county budget officials how you feel about their plan to spend your tax dollars in the upcoming fiscal year?

Here's your chance: The county is holding three budget meetings in the Dranesville District that includes McLean, Great Falls and Herndon.

At these meetings, county budget officials explain the highlights of the county's recently released proposed $6.7 billion budget. Yes, they talk in plain English.

In addition taxpayers get a chance to ask questions and give their opinions.

Here the list of Dranesville meetings. Just pick the one closest to your home:

The budget proposed by County Executive Anthony Griffin Feb. 28 restores no cuts in services made in the past several years. It includes a two percent pay raise for county employes beginning July 1, an increase in police overtime, and half the amount requested by county schools.

How does the proposed budget affect your wallet:

• The property tax rates remains at $1.07 per $100 of assessed value but the average homeowner will pay nearly $34 more in property taxes. That's because the mean value of county homes has  increased slightly from $445,533 to $448, 696.
• Storm water fees are proposed to increase one cents to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value. That's means an average $45 increase for homeowners.

The proposed budget does not contain a meals tax, which is a tax on meals eaten in restaurants. Such a tax would be in addition to an existing sales tax.

Where to find the budget. A summary of the budget accompanies this story. Just click on the Budget pdf.

For more information on the FY 2013 Advertised Budget Plan, contact the Department of Management and Budget at 703-324-2391, TTY 711, or access the budget online. The entire budget is also available on CD-ROM upon request. 

The board of supervisors will approve a final budget in late April.