The Observer Newspapers | Incumbents Spin Lower Tax Payments

April 17, 2008

Incumbents Spin Lower Tax Payments

To the editor:

At the Chamber of Commerce Candidate's Forum Saturday, one member of council claimed that the current council had reduced Herndon real estate taxes. Was that council member claiming to be responsible for the drop in housing values and resulting reduction in real estate assessments?

I ask this question because the tax rate has not changed and remains at 24 cents per $100 of assessed value. Reductions in taxes will only be for those whose homes have lost value. As Councilman Harlon Reece said during the forum, the real estate tax rate has been reduced four times during the last seven years, from 32 cents per $100 of assessed value to its current level, and that was during the administrations of former mayors Carol Bruce, Rick Thoesen, and Mike O'Reilly.

In addition, the current council has also presided over an increase in operating expenses over its two-year term from $30,016,535 to $33,881,539, a 12.9 percent increase.

I have also heard and read that everyone running, except the current council, will try to re-establish the day labor center. That is not at all true. The closing of the center is a fact of life, and continually re-establishing it and closing it seems pretty futile. I have not heard any candidate for any office in Herndon support re-opening the center.

I would urge everyone to consider all the issues of the Town of Herndon and its future and to vote on May 6. I would also remind people that, even though we can vote for up to six council members, we may vote for fewer. We should only vote for those we feel would move the town forward.

Martha Langrehr

Herndon