Lowering the tax rate by one cent equals “a latte a month.” – David Mekarski, Purcellville Town Manager

By Valerie Cury

Purcellville Town Manager David Mekarski’s proposed budget for FY 22 is $0.22 per $100 of assessed value. Fireman’s Field proposed budget for the same year is $0.03. At the March 22 Purcellville Town Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to lower the proposed rate to $0.21 per $100 of assessed value. 

Mekarski wanted to leave the proposed rate at $0.22. He said that inflation currently is at eight percent and, encouraging the Council not to lower the proposed rate by one cent said that “one penny would take care of inflationary cost.”

The real estate tax assessments increased by on average 11.72 percent on average. The one cent reduction is equivalent to $174,000.

“That penny will only save the homeowners $50.00. As your manager, I’m telling you that citizens would rather see this Council invest in quality of life … That $174,000 is a latte not a day, a latte not a week, a latte a month … [and] would help finance the kind of wages that our most important asset, our employees deserve.”

Mekarski is proposing a six percent cost of living increase for employees, and one time five percent pay for performance. On Feb. 8, Mekarski used $300,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to give bonuses to 82 Town employees. Bonuses ranged from a minimum of $500 for part time employees and $1,000 for full time employees, to a maximum of $7,500.

Council Member Mary Jane Williams had initially said “I prefer to leave the tax rate where it is … we need to have that cushion there.” She said she could agree to a one cent decrease but not two cents.

Hearing Mekarski say that the Town needed to keep the rate where it is, Council Member Stan Milan countered, “The citizens of Purcellville have experienced the inflation rate as well.”

“They were surprised, I was surprised that the assessed value of my home went up. So that causes me to pay more taxes,” he said. The citizens of Purcellville need some relief in some capacity, even if it is just $50. Fifty dollars might be a life saver for some citizens in this town and I would like to see at least a one cent savings.”

“I would favor reducing it from $0.22 by at least a penny, added Vice Mayor Chris Bertaut. “The savings are out there; we just need to comb through the budget and find them – and it’s really more than $50. [increase] for most of the homeowners in this Town.”

Addressing current inflation, Bertaut said, “It’s greater than the amount of regular inflation that we are experiencing and we are experiencing an awful lot of inflation as homeowners – and not just in the value of our houses, but in groceries, and fuel costs …” He added it was better to “invest in the community by letting them keep some of their money.”

Council Member Joel Grewe said the one cent reduction was right explaining that the residents are already facing a lot of increases.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser said he knew a great family who lived in Purcellville, and they moved out last year. When he called and asked them why they left, they said that every time they saw a tax bill from the Town of Purcellville, they felt like they were being robbed. “That’s the reality of a lot of folks … through COVID a lot of families left Purcellville because they lost their jobs.”

Addressing Mekarski, Fraser said that when he walks out of Town Hall, he will hear from a resident, and you know who that resident is, that the Town Manager doesn’t live in Town and doesn’t pay taxes, but “is telling me to raise taxes.” 

“I believe that the people of Purcellville stuck with us. They were resilient. They are paying their taxes, and they are paying their utility bills. Let’s give them a break,” said Fraser.