Washington County Budget Proposal Passes Split Vote Committee To Discuss The Income Tax Rate

The Washington County Commission on Tuesday announced final approval of the county’s operating and capital budgets, unchanged from last week’s draft and without tax increases.

County Budget ( Photo: NRP )

County operating and capital budgets received final approval with no fees and no tax increases

The budget relates to fiscal year 2024, which begins on July 1. The Washington County Commission on Tuesday announced final approval of the county’s operating and capital budgets unchanged from last week’s draft and without tax increases. But the vote ended 3-2 with the all-Republican board disagreeing on whether income should be projected differently. Commissioner Derek Harvey reiterated his concerns that the county is losing millions of dollars each year as the county’s income tax rate has risen by a combined 0.25% over the past two years.

Tax hikes have no real effect on the poor

The county is no longer able to collect the full amount of its allowed income tax rate, it will lose an additional $4 million to $5 million in state aid through disparity subsidies. These subsidies are awarded to jurisdictions whose per capita tax revenue is less than 75% of the national average. We always have to make decisions about priorities, Harvey said. Any tax increase will have no real effect on the poor, as some have argued but tax cuts hit the poor disproportionately. Because it affects our ability to provide the services they need.

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