Taxes and Development Are Focus of Candidates Debate
Arlington voters interested in knowing where real estate taxes are headed got a small taste at Tuesday evening’s candidates’ debate sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation. The online Arlington Sun-Gazette summarizes the results of the debate between the three candidates for the Arlington County Board.
The paper’s Scott McCaffrey reports that “(incumbent Chris) Zimmerman (D) sidestepped a direct question on whether he would support raising real estate tax rates next year, a politically unpleasant prospect facing the County Board as it grapples with a flattening real estate market. Over the past five years, board members have been able to use rising home values to cut the real estate tax rate significantly, while still reaping a windfall in real estate tax revenue. Most residents have seen their tax bills double during that period; while some have complained, incumbents have not been held to account for the increase at the polls.” On the other hand, challenger Mike McMenamin (R) said , “’We are driving the middle class out of Arlington,’” largely due to increasing taxes,” according to the paper.
And McCaffrey quotes Green Party candidate Josh Ruebner saying, “In a few more years, Arlington will be completely empty of the economic and ethnic diversity that the County Board claims to value.”
We encourage ACTA members to take a look at the candidates by attending any of the candidate debates sponsored by their civic association or other service organizations.