Real-estate assessment time in Fairfax County splits the residents into various factions but leaves the "completely happy" category virtually empty. As the assessments reach area homes, phones at local supervisors' offices are ringing off the hook with complaints.
Norm Byers mans the tax hot line at Supervisor Elaine McConnell's (R-Springfield) office.
"This is the third consecutive year of double-digit increase," Byers said. "People believe the School Board is out of control." He pointed to Fairfax County's budget being 7-percent higher than that of neighboring Montgomery County.
Last year, Fairfax County Schools asked for a 13.27-percent increase and settled for 8.57 percent. "Cut the school budget" is a common response from those who do not have children in school. There are parents who are for more funding, as well.
"We would get parents calling, asking why we were cutting it," Byers said.
Residents in Lee District make the calls to Supervisor Dana Kauffman's (D-Lee) office also. Administrative assistant Linda Waller gets many of the calls. One man even went as far as targeting Superintendent Daniel Domenech's salary, which is over $200,000, as the perpetrator.
"There are people that feel the school budget is too much," Waller said, but "we do hear from parents that feel there are things in the school budget that need to be cut. They are in the minority."
Although the real-estate tax is the biggest contributor to the county budget and schools are the biggest drain on the budget, other county services are to be taken into consideration. Fire, police, parks, social services and miscellaneous fall under that.
The current tax rate is $1.21 per $100 of assessed value on the home. Supervisors have proposed trying to get it down to $1.19, which will still be an increase to homeowners but won't be as much. To homeowners, this increase is reflected in the increased escrow or tax payment. Some even want more of a decrease than that.
"It has to be more than that," Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) said.
Waller remembers an incident last year where one man wasn't considering everything the county budget includes.
"He was furious, yelling and screaming about services he doesn't use," but at a later meeting, it was revealed that "every day he goes running in county parks. He honestly did not think he used county services," Waller said.
Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) has experienced that to some extent on the police and fire coverage.
"I hear from some folks that say, 'I don't use the libraries or have kids in school,’" she said, but at the same time, "people want to know that this is a safe community."
FAIRFAX STATION resident Teresa Wysor was surprised at her real-estate assessment increase, which was up around $50,000.
"It's always gone up, a very expensive county to live in. I would hope it goes to schools and roads, that's what's important to me right now," she said. She is considering challenging it, though.
"People value education in Fairfax County," Bulova added.
A Franconia resident who didn't want to give his name wasn't on the same page as Wysor.
"I don't have any kids in school anymore. We've got to cut the school budget. I'm having to pay for everybody else. These people [Board of Supervisors] are driving us out of Fairfax County. I'm getting ready to write a letter to Miss Hanley [chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors]," he said.
To Waller, considering everyone’s needs is a balancing act.
"The needs of the individual and the needs of the group, that's the balancing act," she said.
Byers said the police force is "lean" for a county this size but noted "for the first time in 26 years we have a new police station in Sully," he said. McConnell's office and the West Springfield District police station are scheduled to move back into their newly renovated station as well, which cost the county $10.8 million.
For young people trying to find a place to live or seniors on a fixed income, the pain is felt as well. Waller has heard from seniors.
"It's a real problem for seniors," she said.
Byers has heard some suggestions for raising county fees. Impounded cars, parking, zoning, decals, recreational fees, overdue library books, parking violation penalties, Connector bus fares and the 911 call rate increase are all possibilities for generating county funds in the future. Currently, the 911 fee is $1.75 per line per month, but a 25-cent increase with a $3 limit is being looked at.
"We're trying to do what we can to mitigate the circumstances," he said.
Bulova is considering a raise in cell phone tax and ambulance fees. The complexity of the issue was agreed on by all.
"It is not just an issue of spending, it's a very complex issue," Byers said.
"It's not black-and-white," Waller added.
The county does have a procedure by which homeowners can contest their assessment through the Fairfax County Board of Equalization, which is not part of the tax administration. Homeowners must prove that the "assessor committed a manifest error or totally disregarded controlling evidence," according to the application. The Franconia man said he did contest his, but not through formal channels.
"I've been there and done that, what a waste of time. When you call up the supervisor to complain, they aren't interested," he said.