How Arlington hopes to promote social equity as COVID-19 affects property tax revenue
Arlington leaders are not waiting for the city Unity Council’s findings to set aside funds and resources to promote social equity.
As city council members and City Manager Trey Yelverton discussed ways to support services in anticipation of falling tax revenues, they also considered cost-cutting measures for residents who’ve consistently paid their water bills on time or need police towing assistance after an accident.
Among the proposed changes for the Fiscal 2021 budget include eliminating a $20 fee charged when people ask Arlington Police to call or direct towing services.
“The goal here was to really disassociate police from that revenue expense,” Yelverton said.
Councilman Marvin Sutton, who represents District 3, said eliminating the fee may go a long way for people in lower-income areas.
“Sometimes it really hurts and it takes away from the income of our citizens who are in an under-served community,” he said.
The fee accounted for $175,180 collected during Fiscal 2019. The city has collected nearly $110,000 so far this fiscal year.
District 1 Councilwoman Helen Moise said the fee and service may be important for maintaining road safety.
“I’m thinking about all the people who see $20 as a minimal cost,” she said.
Officials are also proposing refunding water service deposits to those who have consistently paid bills on time. Yelverton said Tuesday nearly 17,000 residents may qualify to receive anywhere between $20 and $140 of their deposit. Additionally, the budget sets aside over $461,000 to implement the Unity Council’s recommendations the group was tasked with making around February.
Yelverton said he felt the time was right to discuss equity issues, especially as coronavirus has hurt people’s incomes and livelihoods.
“It just felt like an interesting metaphor for what we’re going to be doing in the months and years ahead as we talk about equity in our community,” he said.
The city is also bearing down for tougher times ahead in its $538 million budget for Fiscal 2021. Cut from this fiscal year’s budget by over $13 million, the proposal prioritizes equity efforts, increases in public safety funding and maintenance of city software. The budget also sets aside $318,636 to maintain parks and open new ones and $20,000 to support virtual town hall meetings.
According to the draft budget, the city will lose nearly $1 million in property taxes, or less than 1% of the city’s budget. Yelverton said the worst may be yet to come, predicting more losses from property taxes for Fiscal 2022.
“This is probably a three-to-four-year challenge for us,” he said during the council’s Aug. 4 meeting.
Yelverton wrote in the budget that residents may pay over $34 more next year for city services, including $2 more per month on property taxes, 20 cents more for garbage services and 25 cents more on storm water rates.
Council members will continue discussion of the budget during their Aug. 18 meetings. The council voted to hold a public forum on the budget Sept. 8.
This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 7:24 PM.
