County should consider all areas before hiking taxes

James Settle
Published: March 5, 2008

Soon it will be time to advertise the 2008 Culpeper County tax rates.

I give kudos to the Culpeper County government in its efforts to keep the new budget increase low. But I think county governments tend to focus mostly on real estate taxes to increase revenue because special interest groups resist increases in other revenue areas. 

I think the Culpeper County government needs to consider increases in all revenue sources and should report all county-controlled taxes and fees (including those for businesses) when advertising the 2008 tax rates. 

I think the report should show when the taxes and fees were last changed, and any proposed changes to them. I suspect there are fees that have not been increased in years.Citizens should question any tax or fee that shows no proposed increase in the report. 

Revenue increases should come from fair and careful consideration in increasing not just the real estate tax, but also all county taxes and fees to ensure the burden is shared fairly by all.