The Arlington County Board voted Saturday in favor of a 5-cent property tax increase.
The new tax rate isn’t official, but it sets the maximum possible tax increase before a final budget vote in April. The tax rate has been complicated this year by uncertain federal spending cuts.
If it's enacted, the tax rate for each homeowner would jump five cents per $100 of assessed property value. The average homeowner in Arlington would see their tax bill increase by about $350 annually, according to WTOP.
IN OTHER NEWS:
* More information was released Sunday on how spending cuts could impact each state. Here’s a breakdown of the cuts Virginia and Maryland would see. (NBCWashington.com)
* The Metro could be affected by sequester cuts as 40 percent of current riders are federal employees. Metro brings in $2 million daily, and that number could drop if federal workers are furloughed or laid off. (WTOP)
* Governors O'Malley and McDonnell came together Sunday to urge lawmakers to avoid sequester cuts. (The Hill)
* The impending sale of Chartered Health Plan -- the District’s largest health care-manager for low-income residents -- could leave doctors, hospitals and taxpayers footing $40 million in unpaid medical bills. (Washington Post)
* A report released Monday found the number of “dropout factory” high schools in the District has dramatically increased over the past decade. Fewer than 61 percent of ninth-graders in 13 high schools graduate, up from only two high schools in 2002. (Washington Examiner)
* Mayor Gray says he is happy with the development around Nationals Park and says an all-star game is in the stadium’s future. (Washington Times)
* Officials from Maryland’s Medicaid program argue that a proposal to phase out Medicaid coverage for pregnant women with incomes between 185% and 250% of the federal poverty line -- on the basis that these women will qualify for the state health exchange program under the Affordable Care Act -- would jeopardize access to prenatal screening and other health services. (Maryland Reporter)
* Experts say that a provision within Gov. O’Malley’s bill to expand early voting could lead to voter fraud and expose the state’s elections to cyber security threats. The provision would allow any Marylander to receive a password by email to download and mark a ballot at home before mailing it back to election officials. (Washington Post)
* Several Northern Virginia lawmakers have a launched a campaign to get Gov. McDonnell to rid the newly passed transportation funding bill of the so-called hybrid tax -- a provision within the bill that says hybrid vehicle owners would have to pay an $100 annual fee. (News4)
