The county board of supervisors approved a tentative budget today that includes a new 25-cent property tax dedicated to repairing local roads in both incorporated and unincorporated areas.
The vote was approved 3-2, with the board's Democrats pushing the plan forward.
Supervisors also approved a cumulative 11 cents in cuts to three other property taxes, which would result in a net 14-cent increase for every $100 of valuation next fiscal year if the final budget is approved unaltered in June.
County officials say rising valuation would absorb the 25-cent tax entirely by the second year, meaning that the 14-cent hike could eventually be eliminated. Β
For the average homeowner, the hike would result a $23 jump in annual property tax burdens for the taxes controlled by the supervisors. The preliminary budget sets a cap on the property tax rate, meaning that the supervisors could ultimately approve a budget with a lower rate, but not a higher rate .
Citing concerns about financial impacts and how the county spends transportation dollars, supervisors Steve Christy and Ally Miller, both Republicans,Β voted against the measure. Tuesday's vote reversed their previous βreluctantβ support for the proposal.
